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f)FFICIAL  REPOKT 


MHIM  or  ClIlClvAMAKIA. 


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RICHMOND; 
;•     M.  SMITH,  rUBMC   PRISTF.K. 


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MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Rtci^iOND,  Va.,  May  19,  ISGl. 

To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Bcprcscntatii-es  : 

I  herewith  traD«niit,  for  your  information,  a  cummnnicitinn  from 
the  Secretary  of  V.'ar,  covering  a  copy  of  the  reports  of  Genenl 
Bragg  and  his  subordinate  commanders,  of  the  battle  of  Chick.i- 
niaoga. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


CoNKEDtr.ATE  Statcs  OF  AMEr.rc\,  W\R  Department,  1 
Rkhimnd,  Va  ,  May    19,  lfS64.       \ 

To  IIix  Kj-relkncy  the  Prf!:)d-ciif  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  herewith,  for  the  information  < 
•  'iingrcss,  copies  of  the  reports  of  General  Bragg  and  his  subordiua; 
commanders,  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 

Very  respectfullj,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A.  SEDDOX. 

Secrdary  of  War. 


CEN     S    COOPER, 


BATTLE  OF  CIIICKAMAUGA. 


RErOllT    OF   (GENERAL    TJIIAGCJ. 


Wakm   SrKi.vcH,  Gr.ORurA,  December  28,   I8G3. 

General  S.  Coopkr, 

Adjutant   Gcnfral  C.  S.   A.,  Richmond,    Fa  : 

Sir  :  Most  of  the  fiuborflin;ite  reports  cf  the  operations  of  our 
troops  at  the  battle  of  Chick.iinauga,  having  been  rceeived,  are  hcro- 
with  forwarded,  and  for  the  better  uriderstanding  of  the  movemeiir« 
preceding  and  following  that  important  event  the  following  narrativ.- 
is  submitted ; 

On  the  2  Hh  of  August  it  was  ascertained  certainly  that  the  Fcd'^- 
rsl  army  from  Middle  Tennessee,  under  General  llosencranz.  hi  i 
crossed  the  mountains  ta  Stevenson  ond  Bridgeport.  His  force  of 
effective  infantry  and  artillery  amounted  to  fully  8c\cniy  thousnnd, 
divided  into  four  corps.  A'lout  th;  same  time.  General  Hurnside  ad- 
vanced from  Kentucky  towaril*  Knoxville,  K:ist  Tennessee,  with  > 
force  estimated  by  the  General  commaniling  that  department  at  over 
25,(V,1().  In  view  of  tlie  great  superiority  of  nnwhcrs  brought  again'-* 
hira.  General  Buckner  concluded  to  evacuate  Kno.vville,  and,  with  a 
force  of  about  five  thousand  infantry  ani  artilKiy  and  his  cavalry, 
took  position  in  the  vicinity  of  Loudon.  Two  brigades  of  his  com-  . 
luand,  Frazier's,  at  Cumberland  Gap,  and  .Jackson's,  iu  Northeast 
Ttnnessce,  were  thus  severed  from  us.  The  enemy  having  already 
obtained  a  lidgmont  in  East  Tennessee  by  another  route,  the  con- 
tinued occupation  of  Cumberlaml  G.ip  became  very  ha/.ar<loii9  to  th- 
garrison  and  comparatively  unimportant  to  us.  Jts  evacuation  v»< 
accordingly  orderedv  but  oa  the  appeal  of  its  commanJer,  f-tating  hu* 
resotlrccs  and  ability  for  defence,  favorably  endorsed  by  Major  Gen- 
eral Buckner,  the  orders  were  suspended  on  the  Slst  August.  TL" 
main  bodv  of  our  army  was  eacaujp'.'d  near  Chattanooga,  wbibt  t.-- 


Cavalrj  force,  mucb  rcduccil  and  enfeebled  bv  long  service  on  short 
rations,  was  recruiting  in  the  vicinity  of  Rome,  Georgia.  Immediately 
nt'ter  crossing  the  mountains  to  the  Tennessee,  the  enemy  threw  a  corps 
by  way  of  Sequatchie  valley  to  strike  the  rear  of  General  Buckner's 
command,  whilst  Burnside  occupied  him  in  front.  One  division  already 
ordered  to  his  assistance  provin;^  insufficient  to  meet  the  force  concen- 
trating on  hiru.  Buckner  was  directed  to  withdraw  to  the  lliawassee  with 
his  infantry,  artillery  and  supplies,  and  to  hold  his  cavalry  in  front  to 
check  the  enemy's  advance.  As  soon  as  this  change  was  made,  the  corps 
threatening  his  rear  was  withdrawn,-and  the  enemy  commenced  a  movo- 
i^ent  in  force  against  our  left  and  rear.  On  the  last  of  August  it  became 
known  that  he  had  crossed  his  main  force  over  the  Tennessee  river,  at 
and  near  Carpenter's  ferry,  the  most  accessible  point  from  Stevenson. 
By  a  direct  route  he  was  now  as  near  our  main  depot  of  supplies  as 
wo  were,  and  our  whole  line  of  communication  was  exposed,  whilst 
his  was  partially  secured  by  mountains  and  the  river.  By  the.  timely 
arrival  of  two  small  divisions  from  Mississippi  our  eflectivc  force, 
exclusive  of  cavalry,  was  now  a  little  over  thirty-five  thousand,  with 
which  it  was  determined- to  striko  on  the  first  favorable  opportunity. 
*!)[osely  watched  by  our  cavalry,  which  had  been  brought  forward,  it  wa,3 
?oon  ascertained  that  the  euerLy's  general  movement  was  towards  our 
lefUand  rear  in  the  direction  of  Dalton  and  Rome,  keeping  Lookout 
mountain  between  us.  The  nafure  of  the  country  and  the  want  of 
supplies  in  it,  with  the  presence  of  Burnside's  force  on  our  riglit, 
rendered  a  movement  on  the  enemy's  rear  with  our  inferior  force  ex- 
tremely hazardous,,  if  not  impracticable.  It  was,  therefore,  deter- 
mined to  meet  him  in  front  whenever  he  should  emerge  from  tlio 
mountain  gorges.  To  do  this  and  hold  Chattanooga  was  impossible, 
without  such  a  division  of  our  small  force  as  to  endanger  both  parts. 
Accordingly  our  troops  were  put  in  position  on  the  7th  and  8ih  of 
iSeptembcr,  and  took  position  from  Lee  and  Gordon's  mill  to  Lafayette, 
on  the  road  leading  south  from  Chattanooga  and  fronting  the  cast 
slope  of  Lookout  mountain.  The  forces  ou  the  lliawassee  and  at 
Ciiickaniauga  station  -took  the  route  i>y  Ringgold.  A  small  cavalry 
force  was  left  in  observation  at  Chattanooga,  and  a  brigade  of  infant- 
ry, strongly  supported  by  cavalry,  was  left  at  Ringgold  to  hold  the 
railroad  and  protect  it  from  raids 

As  soon  as  our  movement  was  known  to" the  enemy,  his  corps  near- 
est Chatt.inoogu,  and  which  had  been  threatening  Buckner's  rear,  was 
thrown  into  that  place,  and  shortly  thereafter,  commenced  to  move  on 
our  rear  by  the  two  roads  to  Lafayette  and  Ringgold.  Two  other 
corps  were  now  in  Will's  valley,  one;  nearly  opposite  the  head  of  Mc- 
Iicmore's  cove,  a  v»lley  formed  by  Lookout  mountain  and  a  spur  of 
tiiC  main  ridge  called  I'igeon  mountain,  and  the  other  at  or  near  Col- 
onel Winston's,  opposite  Alpine. 

During  the  9th,  it  was  ascertained  that  a  column,  estimated  at  from 
fjur  thousand  to  eight  thousand,  had  crossed  Lookout  ipountaip  into 
the  cove  by  way  of  Stevens'  and  Cooper's  gaps.  Thrown  off  his 
guard  by  our  rapid  movement,  apparently  in  retreat,  when,  in  reality, 
wo  had  concentrated  opposite  his  ccatrc,  and  deceived  by  tue  informa- 


I  from  deserters  and  others  sent  into  Li*  linea,  the  enemy  prc«»cJ 
n  his  columns  to  intercepl  us,  and  thus  exposed  himself  indctail. 

M:ijor  General  Hindffinn  received  verbal  InBtnictions  on  the  !Hh  to 

••'^[>are  his  division  to  move  against  this  force,  and  was  informed  that 

ther  division   from    Lieutenant   General    HilTs  command,  at  L»- 

■  tte,  would  join  him.  That  evening  the  following  written  orders 
t>  issued  to  Generals  Ilindmau  and  Hill : 

IIeapqi  AUTERS  Armf  Tkn.nfssef.,       } 
Ta*  avd  Gordon's  Mills,  11  JJ-4  P.  >].,  Sept.  9,  I«C.3.  \ 

)r  General  IIonMAN, 

Commanding  Division  : 

'•E>r.R*L:  You  will  move  with  your  division  immediately  to  Davis' 
s  roads,  on  the  road  from  Lafayette  to  Stevens'  g»p.  At. this 
•t  you  will  put  yourself  in  (Communication  with  the  column  of 
:,or:il  llill,  ordered  to  move  to  the  same  point,  and  .take  command 
the  forces,  or  report  to  the  officer  commanding  Hill's  column,  ac- 
!ing  to  rank.      If  in  command,  you  will  move  upon  the  enemy,  rn- 

■  :ed  to  be  four  thousand  or  five  thousand  strong,  encamped  at  (he 
t  of  Lookout  mountain,  at  Stevens'  gap.  Another  column  of  the 
liiy  is  reported  to  be  at  Cooper's  gap — number  not  knona. 

I  am,  General,  etc., 

KrNLOCH  Falconf.r, 
AssistnTit  Adjutant  General. 

Headquarters  Armt  Tenneksee.      ) 
Ixe  and  Gordons  MiU,  1 1  3-4,  P.  M.,  Sept.  9,  1363.  \ 

itcnant  General  Hru., 

Commanding  Corps  : 

''E.vERAi. :   I  enolose  orders  given  to  General  Hindman.     General 

i;:g   directs   that  you  eend   or   fake,  as  your  judgment  dictateF, 

•!>urnc"«  divisioa  to  unite  with  General   Hindman,  at  Davis"  cross 

"Is  to-morrov/  morning.   Hindman  starts  at  twelve  o'clock  to-night, 

'  he  has  thirteen  miles  to  make.     The  commander  of  the  column, 

,=  united,  will  move  upon  the  enemy  encamped  at  the  foot  of  Stevens' 

'       '     four  thousand  or  fire  thousand.     If  uriforesecn  circum- 

prevent  your  movement  notify  Hindman.     A  cavalry 

-  .    .   .    accompany  your  Cfilumn.      Hindman   Las  nrixie.     Open 

munication  with  Hindman  with   your  cavalry  in   advance  oi  th*> 

:."tioa.     He  marches  on  the  road  from    Dr.  Anderaon  s  to  Davia' 

•'■:-9  roa/la. 

I  am.  General,  etc, 

Kl^I-'■•tII  F»I/o?«ER, 

Amirtont  Adjvlan\  GmeiaJ 

'n  the  receipt  of  his  order,  during  the  night.  General  Hiil  Tf],::r-^. 

.1  the  trvovemcnt  required  by  him  was  impracticable,  as   (.»ei.i:f-i 

burnfs  was  aick,  and  both  the  gaps.  Dug  -and  CalleU'a,  liad  Iteji 


blocked  by  felling  timber,  whicL  woulJ  require  twentj-four  bonrs  for 
its  removal. 

Not  to  lose  this  fjvorable  opportunity,  Ilindman,  by  a  prompt 
tnovcinent.  being  alrendj  in  position,  tlie  follow inf;  orders  were  issui^''. 
at  I'iglit,  A.  M.,  (in  the  It'ili,  for  Miijor  tteneral  IJackner  to  move  wr. 
Lis  two  liivisiotis  an'j  leport  to  llindinan. 

IIkaH  TARTFRS    Ar.MV   Tkvncsbf.e.       ^ 

Ler  and  Cordons  Mill,  8.  A .  M.  [• 

September  V.k  If5'J3.       ) 

Major  General  BrcKstR,  Andtrsoii's  : 

Of.nkral:  I  enclose  ordrris  issued  last  nigbt  to  Generals  Hill  and 
HiLdiuan.  (jcneral  Hill  has  found  it  impossible  to  carry  out  the  part 
assigned  to  Cleburne's  division.  The  General  commanding  desires 
that  you  will  execute,  without  delay,  the  oidcr  issatd  to  General  Hill. 
You  can  move  to  Davis'  cross-roads  by  the  direct  road,  from  your  pre- 
sent po.sition  at  Anderson's,  along  which  General  Hindman  has  passed. 
1  am,  General,  etc., 

Gr.ORGE  W.  Brest, 
Assistant  AdjjXant  General. 

And  both  Hindman  and    Hill  were  notified.     Hindman  bad  halted     ] 
his  division  at  Morgan's,  some  three  or  four  miles  from  Davis'  cross- 
roads, in  thcCovc,  and  at   this  point  Buckncr  joined  him,  during  th 
afternoon  of  the  WHh..    Reports  full^'  confirming  previous  informatii 
in  regard  to  the  position  of  the  enemy's  forces,  were  received  during  t!i 
mth,  and  it  became  certain  that  he  was  moving  his  three  columns  t  • 
form  a  junction  upjn  us,  at  or  near  l^afayette.     The  corps  near  Col- 
onel   \Viii^ton's,  moved   on    the   mountain    towards    Alpine,  a  point     I 
twenty  miles  south  of  us.     The  one  opposite  the  cove  continued  its 
movement,  and  threw  forward  its   advance   to  Davis'  cross-roads,  aii 
Crittenden  moved  frotr  Chattanooga  on  the  roads  tt>  Ringgold  and  L'^ 
and  Gordon's  mills.     To  strike  these  isolated  commands  in  suocessioM 
was  our  obvious  policy.     To  secure  mere  prompt  and   dec:ded_  action 
in  the  movement  ordered  against  the  enemy's  centre, my  headquartcis 
were  removed  to   Lafayette,  where  I  arrived   about   half-past  eleven,     j 
I'.  M  .  on  tlip  UUh,  and  Lieutenant  General  Polk  was  ord'jre.d  forward 
with  his  remaining  division  to  Anderson's,  so   as  to  cover  Hindman- 
rear  during  the  operations  in   the   cove.     At  Lafayette,  I  met  Maji.r 
Nocquet,  engineer  oflicer  on  General   Buckner's   staff,  sent  by  Gen;  - 
ral  Hindman,  after  a  junction  of  their  commands,  to  confer  with  m-, 
and  suggest  a  change  in  the   plan   of  operations.     After  hearing  tli  ■ 
reports  of  this  oflicer,  and   obtaining   from   the  active  and   energet- 
cavalry  commander  in  front  of  our  position.  Brigadier   Gei;eral  Mar 
tin  the  latest  iiiformation  of  the   enemy's   movemcnta  and  position,  J 
verbally  directed  the   Major   to   return  to  General  Hindman  and  s:)-, 
that  my  plans  could  not  be  changed,  and  that  he  would  carry  out  hi 
orders.     At  the  sartie  time  tho  following  written  orders  wero  sent  '. 
the  General  by  courier: 


Headquarters  Armt  Tcnn^s^te.      ) 
iMJ'aydte,  G<i.,  li,  P.  M.,  Sept.  10,  KS6S.  \ 
Major  General  IIindman,  Commandirig,  etc.  : 

General:  Headquarters  are  here,  and  the  followingis  thcinformi- 
tion  : 

Crittenden's  corps  is  advancing  on  ns  from  Chattanooga.  A  lavge 
force  fioin  the  south  has  mivanred  to  within  sevcft  miles  of  thispoiri 
I'olk  is  left  at  Anderson's  to  cover  your  rear.  General  V'T^iiji  ordci 
jou  to  attack  and  force  your  way  through  the  enemy  to  this  point  tl 
the  earliest  hour  you  can  see  him  in  the  morning.  Cleburne  Mill  at- 
tack in  front  the  jnoment  your  guns  are  heard. 
I  am,  General,  etc., 

George  W.  Brent, 

Assutr.nt  Adjutant  General. 

Order.s  were  also  given  for  Walker's  reserve  corp?  to  moveprnniptly 
and  join  Cleburne's  division  at  Dug  Gap,  to  unite  in  the  attack.  At 
the  .same  time  Cleburne  was  directed  to  remove  all  obstructions  in  the 
road  in  his  front,  which  was  promptly  done,  and  by  daylight  he  was 
ready  to  move.  The  .obstructions  in  Catli-tt's  G.ip  were  also  ordered 
to  be  removed,  to  clear  the  road  in  Ilindman's  rear.  Breckinridge's 
division,  Hill's  corps  was  kept  in  position  south  of  Lafayette  to  check 
any  movement  the  enemy  might  make  from  that  direction. 

At  daylight,  1' proceeded  to  join  Cleburne  at  Dug  Gap,  and  fotind 
him  waiting  the  opening  of  Hindmaa's  guns  to  move  on  the  enemy's 
flank  and  rear.  Mo.st  of  the  day  was  spent  in  this  position,  waiting 
in  great  anxiety  for  the  attack  by  Hindman's^olumn.  Several  cou- 
riers and  two  staff  office r.s  were  dispatched  at  diff^jrcnt  tim:s,  urging 
him  to  move  with  promptness  and  vigor.  About  tiie  miildlc  of  th« 
afternoon,  the  first  gun  was  heard,  when  the  advance  of  Clebnrne'a 
division  discovered  the  enemy  had  taken  advantage  of  our  delay  and 
retreated  to  the  mountain  passes.  The  '.nt ray  now  discovered  hjs  er- 
ror, and  commenced  to  repair  it  by  withdrawing  hi?<  corps  from  the 
direction  of  Alpine,  to  uni.e  with  the  one  near  Mclx'more's  cove. 
lrhil^t  that  was  gradually  extended  towards  Lee  ana  Gordon's  roiila. 
Our  movement  having  ihJB  failed  in  its  justly  anticipated  results  it 
was^Jetermioed  to  turn  upon  the  third  CoipAvf  lli«  eu'-aiv.  aiipio»'-ii- 
ilig  nb  from  the  dircclKin  of  (.li;iUHi.(Mig;k.  Tck;  ^'%^\:l■^^^<^r>■r,^  v^■nr^', 
ingly  withdrawn  to  L.if»y<tie,  and  I'oik'a  and  Waikera  corps  wie 
movvd  immediately  in  the  direction  of  Lee  and  Goiiion's  mills.  7h« 
one  coips  of  the  enemy  in  this  direction  was  known  to  bp  divided — 
one  division  having  been  sent  to  Ringgold.  Upon  ieariiing  the  dti- 
positions  of  the  enemy  from  our. cavalry  commander  in  tb«t  direcliua 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  I2ih.  Lieutenant  (Jrneral  Polk,  coain)a.adiiig 
the  advance  forces,  wag  directed  m  the  following  note: 

Headquarter"*  Abmt  TcKKEiwn,  ) 

Lnfnytttt,  Ga.,  6,  P.  31.,  September  13.      J 

LicatenaDt  General  Polk  :  • 

Gesekal  ;  I  encloee  yon  a  ^'"F'*'^^  ^^^^  General  Pcgraa      Tk't^ 


10 

prcsente  you  a  fine  opportunity  of  striking  Crittenden  in  detail,  and 
I  hope  you  will  avail  yourself  of  it  at  daylight  to-morrow.  This  di- 
vision crushed,  and  the  others  are  yours.  We  can  then  turn  on  tho 
force  in  the  cove.  Wheeler's  cav:ilry  will  move  on  Wilder  so  a«  to 
oovcr  your  right  1  shall  be  df-lighted  to  Lear  of  yonr  success. 
Very  truly  yours, 
•  Br.vxton  Braoo. 

To  attack  at  daylight  on  tho  13th.  Upon  further  information  the 
order  was  renewed  iu  two  notes,  at  later  hours  of  the  same  day,  as 
follows  : 

JIeadquart^rs  Army  Tenkf.pske,      > 
Lafaydte,  Ga  ,  6,  P.  M.^  September  12,  1863.  \  . 

Lieutenant  General  Polk, 

Commanding  Corps  : 

Gkneral:  I  enciose  you  a  dispatch  maikcd  "  A,"  and  I  now  give 
jcu  the  orders  of  the  commjiriding  General,  viz :  to  attack  at  day- 
dawn  to-morrow  the  infantry  column  reported  in  said  dispatch  at 
three-quarters  cf  a  mile  beyond  Peavine  church  on  the  road  to  Grays- 
ville  fiom  Lafayette. 

I  am,  General,  etc., 

Gkorge  W.  Brent, 

jlssistarit  AJju(a7it  General. 

IIradcjuakters  Armv  Tennessee,  ) 
Lnfayitte,  Ga.,  iSeptember  12,  18G3.       J 

Lieutenant  General  Poik, 

Commnnding  Corps  : 
General:  The  enemy  is  approaching  from    the  south,  and  it   is 
highly  important  that  your  attack  in  the  morning  should  be  quick  and 
decided.     Let  no  time  he  \o?<t. 

I  am  General,  etc., 

George  W.  Brent, 

Axsislant  Adjutant  Gcn(ral. 

At  eleven,  P.  M.,  a  dispatch  was  received  irom  the  General,  stating 
that  he  had  taken  a  strong  position  for  defence,  and  reqiicMing  that 
fee  should  be  heavily  reinforced.  lie  was  promptly  ordered  not  to 
defer  his  attack,  his  fi>rce  being  already  numerically  superior  to  tho 
enemy,  and  was  reminded  that  his  success  depended  upon  the  prompt- 
ness and  rapidity  of  his  movements. "  He  was  further  informed  that 
Backner's  corps  would  be  moved  within  supporting  distance  the  next 
njcrning. 

Early  on  the  ISth  I  proceeded  to  the  front,  ahead  of  Buckner's 
command,  to  find  that  no  .advance  had  been  m:ide  on  the  enemy, 
and.that  his  forces  had  formed  a  junction  and  recros.sed  the  Cliicka- 
mauga.  Again  disappointed,  immediate  measures  were  taken  to  place 
(Jur  trains  and  limited  supplies  in  safs  positions,  when  all  our  forces 


11 

were  conoentrat'^t^  aloag  the  ChickniTnn;^!,  thrcatenin;^  the  enemy  in 
front.  Mijor  General  Wheeler,  with  two  iJivisions  oF  cavalry,  occu- 
pied the  positions  on  tlio  extreme  Icft.^  vacated  by  Hill's  corps,  and 
wa3  directed  to  press  the  enemy  in  McLcraore's  cove,  to  divert  his  at- 
tention  from  our  real  movement.  Bri;TS(]Jcr  General  Forrest,  with 
his  own  and  Pe^ram's  division  of  cavalry,  covered  the  movement  on 
our  front  and  right.  Bil^adier  General  D.  U.  Johnson,  whose  brigade 
had  been  at  Ringgold  holding  the  railroad,  was  moved  towards  Reed's 
bridge,  which  brought  him  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  line.  Walker's 
corps  formed  on  his  left,  opposite  Ah-.^jandcr's  bridge  Buckner's 
next,  near  Ledford's  ford.  I'ltlk's  Ofpo.site  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills,  and 
Hill's  on  tbe  extreme  left.  With  Johnston  moved  two  brigades,  Just 
arrived  from  Mississippi,  and  three  of  Longstreet's  corps,  all  without 
artillery  and  transportation. 

The  following  orders  were  issued  on  the  night  of  the  17th  for  the 
fore  s  to  cross  the  Chiek^mauga,  commencing  the  m"vem«nt  at  si.x 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the    It^th,  by   the  extreme  I'lght,  at  Reed's  bridge. 

lIcADqfARTER.S  AnMV  TeNNESSF.E,         >■ 

In  (he  Fidd,  IacVs  Tan-yard,  September  IH,  1863.  \ 

CiRClLXR. 

I.  Johnston's    column.  (Hood's,)  on    crossing    at    or  near    Reed's 
^bridge,  will  turn  to  the  left  by  the  m'ist  practicable  route,  and  sweep 

up  the  ('hirkamauga  towards  Lee  and  Gordon's  milTs. 

II.  Walker,  crossing  at  Alexander's  bridge,  will  unite  in  thismove» 
and  push  vigorously  on  the  enemy's  flank  and  rear  in  the  same  direc- 
tion. 

III.  Buckner,  crossing  at  Ledford's  ford,  will  join  in  the  move- 
ment to  the  left  and  pres^  the  enemy  up  the  stream  from  Polk's  front 
at  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills. 

IV.  Polk  will  picfs  his  forces  to  the  front  of  Lee  and  Gordon's 
mills,  and  if  met  by  too  much  resistance  to  cross  will  bear  to  the 
right' and  cfoss  at  Dalton's  ford,  or  at  Le  Iforde.  as  may  be  nccegsary, 
and  join  the  attack  wherever  the  enemy  may  be. 

V.  Hill  will  cover  our  left  flank  from  an  advance  of  the  enemy  from 
the  cove,  an<l,  by  pres?ing  the  cavalry  in  his  front,  ascertain  if  the 
enemy  is  reinforcing  atf  Lee  and  Gordon's  milU,  in  which  event  ho 
will  attack  them  in  flank. 

VI.  VVheeler's  cavalry  will  hold  the  gap  in  Pigeon  Mountain,  and 
cover  our  rear  and  left  and  bring  up  the  stragglers. 

VII.  All  teams,  etc  .  not  with  troops,  should  go  towards  Ringgold 
and  Dalton,  Georgia,  beyond  Taylor's  ridge.  All  conking  should  bo 
done  at  the  train«  ;  rations,  when  cooked,  will  be  forwarded  to  the 
troops.       • 

Vllf.  The  above  movements  will  be  executed  with  the  atrooet 
promptness  and  persi^'rnce.  '  . 

By  comrnT:;'!     T  (irrrrsi  P-dacc. 

GtoRfir.  W.  Breut, 

A»ii*iant  AdjuUMl  Geitertl. 


12 

The  refittonce  offered  }y  ihe  cncmj's  cavalry  and  the  difiiCultiM 
srieing  fiora  ihe  bad  and  narrow  country  roads,  caused  unexpected 
delays  in  the  exccuiiou  of  tlii-i-e  niovimtiits.  Thoujih  the  coinniander 
of  the  right  column  vas  ecvtral  times  urgfd  to  prtss  forward,  his 
crcpfinj:;  was  not  cfTictcd  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  At  thistime, 
Major  Uciieral  Hood,  of  Lorgstrett's  corps,  arrived  and  appunicd  com- 
n:aiid  of  the  column.  Brigadier  Lcneral  Johnston  resuming  his  im- 
pjoviFcd  division  of  three  brigades.  Alexander's  bridge  was  hotly 
contested  and  finally  biokcn  up  by  theeticmy,  just  as  General  Walker 
secured  posEcssicn.  He  moved  down  stream,  however,  a  short  distance 
snd  crosted,  as  directed,  at  Byron's  lord,  and  thus  secured  a  junction 
with  Hood  after  night. 

'ihe  movement  was  rc^uincd  at  daylight  on  the  19th,  and  IJuckncr's 
corps,  wiih  C'heaiham's  division,  of  I'olk's,  had  cros.«ed  and  formed 
when  a  bii.-k  engagement  commenced  with  our  cavalry  under  Forrest 
on  the  extreme  i  i;.  ht.  About  nine  ocloek,  a  brigaile  from  Walker 
was  ordeicd  to  Forrest's  support,  and  soon  after  W  alker  was  ordered  to 
attack  with  his  whole  force.  Our  line  was  now  formed  with  Bu(  kijer's 
left  resting  on  ihe  L'hieknm.Tii^a.  about  one  mile  below  Lee  ami  Gor- 
don's mills.  Cn  bis  tight  ciiine  Hood  with  his  own  and  Johnston's 
divisions,  with  Walker  on  the  extreme  right,  Cheatham's  division  be- 
ing in  reserve,  the  general  direction  being  a  little  cast  of  noith. 
Ihe  attack  ordered  by  our  right  was  made  by  General  Walker  in  hie 
usual  gallant  style,  atd  soon  developed  a  largely  superior  force  op- 
posed.  He  drov«  ihem  handsomejy,  however,  and  captured  several 
latteries  of  artillery  in  most  gallant  charges.  Before  Cheatham's 
division,  ordered  to  his  support,  could  reach  him  he  had  been  presFed 
luck  to  his  first  position  by  the  extended  lines  of  the  enemy  assailing 
him  on  both  flaiiks  The  two  commands  united  were  soon  enabled  to 
lorco  the  enemy  back  again,  and  recover  our  advantage,  though  wo 
were  yet  greatly  outnumbered.  Q'hese  moveruents  on  our  right  were 
in  a  direction  to  leave  an  opening  in  our  line  between  Clieatham  and 
Hood.  Stewart's  division,  forming  Buekner's  second  line,  was  thrown 
to  the  right  to  fill  thij,  and  it  soon  beciime  holly  engaped  as  did  Hood's 
whole  front.  The  enemy,  whose  left  was  at  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills 
when  our  movement  comm'ne<d,  had  rapidly  transferred  foices  frc.m 
his  extreme  I  igbt.  cl  anging  his  entire  line,  and  seemed  dispo.=ied  to 
di.--pute,  with  iilllii.'-  ability,  oui  ■.  TVi  t  to  ^riiti  'be  iy:<ii.  road  to  Chat- 
tanooga in  his  rear.  Lieutenant  General  Folk  was  ordered  to  move 
Lie  remaining  division  acioss  at  the  nearest  ford,  and  to  assutne  the 
coir.mand  in  person  on  our  right.  Hill's  corps  was  also  ordered  to 
cross  below  Leo  and  Gordon's  mills  and  join  the  lino  on  the  right. 

Whilst  these  movements  were  being  made  our  right  atid  centre  were 
heavily  and  almost  constantly  engaged.  Stewart  by  a  vigorous  assault 
broke  the  enemy's  centre,  and  penetrated  far  into  his  liijes,  but  was 
obliged  to  retire  for  want  of  sufficient  force  to  meet  the  heavy  enfiLde 
€re'wbich  he  encountered  from  the  right.  Hood,  later  engaged,  ad- 
vanced from  the  first  fire,  and  continued  to  drive  the  force  in  his  front 
until  night.  Cleburne's  division,  of  Hill's  corps,  which  first  reached 
the  right,  was  ordered  to  attack  immediately,  iu  conjuuctiou  with  the 


13 

fcirce  alrea'ly  enc^age'l.  This  vfitnran  commanfl,  unJcr  itH  gill  int  chie?, 
moved  to  its  work  after  sunset,  takintr  the  cnetny  cotnpleifly  liy  sur- 
prise, (Irivirg  bim  ir\  great  disorder  for  nearly  .a  mile,  nn'l  inilieting 
a  very  heavy  loss.  Night  found  us  masters  of  the  grounil,  after  a 
scri"-s  of  very  oh-<tinafe  contests  witli  largely  superior  numb.T't. 

Fr'ini  raptured  yirisoricrs  and  others  we  learned  with  rertfiiity  that 
ve  had  encountered  the  enemy's  whole  force  which  had  been  ra  )ving 
day  and  ni>:ht  since  they  first  ascertained  the  direction  of  oar  tnnrch. 
Orders  bad  been  given  for  the  rapid  march  to  the  field  of  all  reinf  irce- 
incnts  arriving  by  railroad,  and  three  additiitnal  brigades  from  this 
source  joined  us  c-irly  next  morning.  The  rem'iining  forces  on  •our 
extreme  left,  east  ot  the  Cbickamauga,  had  been  ordered  up  early  in 
the  afternoon,  b'tt  reached  the  field  too  iat;  to  pirticiptte  in  thn  en- 
gagi'racnt  of  tliat  day.  They  were  onlere  I  into  line  on  their  arrivil, 
.Htid  disposed  for  a  renewal  of  the  a(?tion  e.x-:^  the  next  morning. 
Information  was  receivfil  from  Lieutenant  General  Longstrcet  of  his 
arrival  at  Ringgold  and  departure  for  the  field.  Fivs  Bra-iU  brigades 
of  his  corps,  about  five  thousand  effective  infantry,  no  artillery, 
reached  us  in  time  to  participate  in  the  ac:iou,  throe  of  them  on  tho 
19th,  and  two  more  on  the  2nth. 

Upon  the  close  of  the  cngag'^meiit  on  ths  evening  of  tlic   13th,. tho 
proper  cominanders  were  summoned   to  my   camp  tire,  and   there  rc- 
.<-iv<-.l  i^pecihc  inforinatio.n  anl  in?ti notions  touohi.ig  the  disposition 
':e  troopa.  and  for  the  opBraiions  of  the  next  moiuing.  The  whole 
wa:»  diMded  for  the  next  morninc   ioo   two  comiiandH  'and    «•- 
!*tgned  to  the  two  senior  LicHtenant  Generals,  Longstrect  and   I'olk. 
'   The  fornricr  to  the  left  where   all  his   own   troojis   were   stationed,  the 
■  r   continuing   his  command   of  the   right.     I.ie^tonJini    (rencral 
.'Street  rea?hiH  my  headriuarters  abo-.ii  eleven,  V.  SI.,  and  imtne- 
!y  received  his  instructions.      After  a  few  hours  rest  at  my  camp 
he  moved  at  da,ylight   to  his   line  jn"t  in    front  of  my  jiositiun. 
I'jnitit  General  Polk  was  ordered  to  assail  the  enemy  on  our  ex« 
".  right  at  day-dawn  on  the  2(Uh.  and  to  take  up  the  attack  iaauc- 
!  .n  rapidly  to  the  left.  .  Tho  left  wing  was  to  await  the  attack  by 
the  right,  take  it  promptly  when  made,  and  the  whole  line  was  then 
fo  he  pushed  vigorously  and  persistently  against  the  enemy  through- 
its  cxient.     Before' the  da^vn  of  day  myself  and  BtaflT   were  ready 
he  sadlle,  occupying  a  position  immediately  in  rear  of  and  aocef?- 
•  to  all  parts  of  "the  line.      With    inrreaHng   anxiety   and  dip»f- 
■ment  I  waited  until  after  i^nnrise  without  hearing  a  gun,  and  «t 
h  dir.patch?d  a  etaff  officer  to  Lieutenant  General  Polk  to  asoer- 
•  the  cause  of  the  delay,  and   urge  him   to  a   prompt  and   speedy 
"ment.     This  officer  not  finding  the  g»ner»l  with   his  troops,  and 
ning  where  he  had  spent  thn  night,  proceeded  across  Aloxander'i 
i^r  to  the  east  side  of  the   Chickainauga   and  there   deliverel  my 
-age.      iVocreding  in  person  to  the  ngbt  wing,  I  found  the  t-T.op* 
even  prepared  for  th*c  movement       Mcs-eng-r*  were  imiD'di  .telr 
itched  for  Lieutenant  General    I'.,  k.  and    be   shortly   afi^r  _j  >ui<d 
My  orders  were  renewed,  and  fie   (jeneml   was  orge  I  to  their 
,  .-;npt  exoruti  in.  iKe  more  important  M  the  car  was  galutcd  through- 


H 

ont  the  ni^rht  with  the  sonii'ls  of  the  sxo  anJ  fallen  timber,  us  the 
en(  my  ituJustriously  lahoreil  to  strengthen  his  position  by  hastily  con- 
etnicted  barricades  an<i  brcaiUworks.  A  rccop.noissance  unule  in  the 
fioiit  of  our  extreme  right,  iiwring  this  doliy,  crossed  the  main  rosid 
to  Chattanooga,  and  proved  the  important  fact  that  this  greatly  desired 
position  was  open  to  oar  possession. 

The  reasons  .issigued  for  this  r.nfortunate  delay  by  the  wing  com- 
mander appear  in  part  in  the  reports  of  hi:)  subordinates.  It  is  suffi- 
cient to  Siiy  they  are  entirely  satisfactory.  It  also  appears  from  these 
reports  that  when  the  action  was  opened  on  the  right,  about  ten 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  troops  were  moved  to  the  assault  in  detail  and  by 
detachments,  unsupported  until  nearly  ail  parts  of  the  right  wing 
were  in  turn  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  Our  troops  were  led  with  the 
{greatest  gallantry,  ar;d  exhibited  great  coolness,  bravery  and  heroic 
devotion.  In  no  instance  did  they  fail,  when  called  on,  to  rally  and 
return  to  the  charge.  But  though  invariably  driving  the  enemy, 
with  great  slaughter,  at  the  points  assailed,  they  were  compelled  in 
turn  to  yield  to  the  greatly  superior  numbers  constantly  brought 
against  them.  The  attack  on  the  left,  promptly  made  asortlered,  met 
with  less  resistance,  much  of  the  enemy's  strength  haing  been  trans- 
ferrfd  to  our  right,  and  was  successfully  and  vigorously  followed  up. 
About  two,  1'.  M.,  passing  along  the  line  to  our  left,  I  found  we  had 
been  checked  in  our  progress  by  encountering  a  strong  position, 
strengthened  by  works  and  obstinately  .defended.  Unable  to  afford 
assittancb  fiom  any  other  part  of  the  held,  written  orders  were 
immediately  dispatched  to  Lieutenant  General  Folk  to  again  assault 
the  enemy  in  his  front  with  his  whole  force,  and  to  persist  until  he 
should  dislodge  him  iVom  his  position.  Directing  the  operations  on 
car  left  to  be  continued,  I  moved  again  to  the  right  and  soon  dis- 
patched a  staff  oflicer  to  Gtneral  Polk,  urging  a  prompt  and  vigor- 
ous execution  of  my  written  orders.  About  foitr,  1*.  M.,  this  general 
assault  was  made  and  the  attack  was  continued  from  right  to  left  until 
the  epemy  gave  way  at  different  points,  and,  finally,  about  dark, 
yielded  us  his  line.  The  contest  was  .severe,  but  the  impetuous 
charge  of  our  troops  could  not  be  resisted  when  tkey  were  brought  to 
bear  in  full  force,  even  where  the  enemy  possessed  all  the  advantage  of 
position  and  breastworks.  1'he  troops  were  halted,  by  their  respective 
commanders,  when  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  the  density  of  the 
forest  rendered  further  movements  miciMiain  and  dangerous,  and  the 
nrmy  bivouacked  on  the  ground  it  had  so  galhintly  won.  Both  flanks 
having  advanced  more  rapidly  than  the  centre,  they  were  found  con- 
froi:ting  each  other  in  lines  nearly  parallel  and  within  artillery  range. 
Any  advance  by  them,  especially  at  night,  over  ground  so  thickly 
wooded,  might  have  resulted  in  the  most  serious  consequences.     . 

The  enemy,  though  driven  from  his  lines,  still  confronted  us,  and 
desultory  firing  whs  heard  until  eight,  P.  M.  Other  .noises,  indicat- 
ing movements  iifid  dispositions  for  the  mofrow,  continued  until  a, 
late  hour  at  iiight. 

During  the  operation?  'b^  the  main  forces,  on  the  19th  and  20th, 
the  cavalry,  on  the  flanks,  was  actively  and  usefully  employed,  hold- 


15 

ing  the  encrny  in  observation  and  tlireatening  or  assaiiin;;  him  %r 
occasion  offered.  From  the  report  of  Major  General  Wheeler,  com-, 
manding  on  the  left,  it  will  be  seen  what  important  service  was  ren- 
dered, both  on  the  2iith  and  2l8t,  by  his"coniuinnd,  cpccially  in  the 
capture  of  prisoners  and  property,  and  in  the  dispersion  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry.  Brigadier  GeEeral  Forrest's  report,  will  show  equally  galLinx 
and  valuable  services  by  his-  command  on  O'ir  right. 

Exhausted  by  two  days'  battle^with  very  liuitcd  supply  of  provis- . 
ions,  and  almost  destitute  of  water,  some  time  in  daylight  was  abso- 
lutely essential  for  our  troops  to  supply  these  necessaries  and  replenish 
their  ammunition  before  renewing  the  contest.  Availing  myself  of 
this  necessary  delay  to  inspect  and  readjust  my  lines,  1  moved,  in 
soon  as  daylight  served,  on  the  2 1st.  On  my  arrival,  about  sanriso. 
near  Lieutenant  General  Polk's  bivouac,  I  met  the  ever  vigilant 
General  Liddell,  commanding  a  division  in  our  front  line,  wlio  was 
awaiting  the  General  to  report  that  bis  pickets  this  morning  discov- 
ered the  enemy  had  retreated  during  the  night  from  his  immediate 
front.  Instructions  were  promptly  given  to  push  forward  our  whole 
line  of  skirmisher-^  to  the  front,  and  I  moved  to  the  left  and  extended 
these  orders.  All  the  cavalry  at  hand,  including  my  personal  guard, 
were  ordered  to  the  front.  Members  of  my  staff,  in  passing  through 
the  lines  ef  our  left  wing  with  their  escort,  were  warned  of  danger, 
and  told  that  they  were  entering  on  the  neutral  ground  betweeti  as  an<J 
the  enemy.  But  this  provbd  to  be  an  error,  and  OTr  cavalry  eoon 
cauie  upon  the  enemy's  rear  .guard,  where  the  main  road  passee 
through  Missionary  ridge.  lie  had  availed  himself  of  the  night  tO/ 
withdraw  from  our  front,  and  his  main  body  was  already  in  position*' 
■within  his  lines  at  Chattanooga.  Any  immediate  pursuit  by  our  in- 
fantry and  artillery  would  have  been  fruitless,  as  it  was  not  decraeJ 
practicable,  with  our  weak  and  exhausted  forces,  to  assail  the  enemy, 
now  more  than  double  our  numbers,  behind  his  entrenchments 
'1 1  '.Mgh  we  had  defeated  him  and  driven  him  from  the  field  with  heavy 
:n  men,  arms  and  artillery,  it  had  only  been  done  by  heavy 
ices,  in  repeated,  persistent  and  most  gallant  assault*  upon  snpe- 
tior  numbers  .strongly  posted  and  protected. 

The  conduct  of  our  troops  was  excellent  throughout  the  prolonged, 
contest.    Often  repulsed  where  success  seemed  impossible,  they  never 
failed  to  tally  and  return  to  the  charge,  until  the  last  combined  and  de- 

■  termined  effort,  in  which  the  spirit  of  every  man  seemed  to  couBpire  for 

!  success,  was  crowned  with  the  reward  due  to  each  gallantry  in  a  just 

^Cftoae. 

I      Our  loss  was  in  proportion  to  the  prolonged  and  obstinate  struggle. 

^wo-fiOhs  of  our  gallant  troops  had  fallen,  and  the  number  of  general 

ftnd  Btaff»fficers  stricken  down  will  hen  show  how  these  troops  were  led. 

Ilajor  General  Hood,  the  model  soldier  and  insfiiring  leafier,  fell  after 

lOiitribating  largely  to  our  success,  and  has  suffered  the  irreparable 

loss  of  a  leg      That  hi«  valuable  life  should  be  spared  to  ui  is,  bow- 

iTer,  a  source  of  thankfulness  and  gratitude.   Maj'ir  General  Hindmas, 

ighly  distinguished  fir  gallantry  and  good  condjrt.  received  a  severs 

•atasion,  bat  persisted  in  keeping  the  safldie  until  he  wiinefB;:d  tbs 


16 

S'jccesp  in  which  hia  command  largelj  participated.  Brigadier  Gen- 
erals B.  II.  Holm,  I'reston  Smith  and  Jiinies  Deshla  died  upon  the 
field  ir.  the  heroic  discharpe  of  duty,  'i'hey  were  true  patriots  and 
^iilliict  poldiers,  tind  worthy  of  the  hiph  reputation  they  enjoyed. 
Bripidie'r  Generals  Adaras.  Gregg  and  McN;iir  fell  severely  wounded 
vhiUt  gallantly  leading  iheir  commands  in  the  thickest  ol  the  fight. 
Il  in  gratifying  to  know  tiiey  aie  convalescing  and  will  be  again  found 
at  the  post  of  duty  and  danger.        . ' 

Judging  from  appearances  on  the£iiM,  the  enemy's  losses  must  have 
exceeded  our  own  largely,  but  we  have  no  means  of  correctly  esti- 
tnptiDg  them.  We  CHptured  over  eight  thousand  prisoners,  fifty-one 
pU'COb  of  artillery,  fifteen  thousand  stand  of  sraiiU  arms,  and  qumti- 
ties  of  ammunition,  with  wapons,  ambulances  and  teams,  medicines,  and 
faospital  stores  in  large  quantities.  The  accompanying  maps,  one,  two, 
three  and  four,  based  or.  accurate  surveys,  will  aflord  the  necessary 
information  for  the  correct  understanding  of  the  movements  of  both 
armies.  The  positions  of  the  troops,  on  the  field  are  given  mostly 
from  the  sketches  of  their  respective  commatiders.  The  times  selected 
for  indication  were  the  morning  of  the  19th,  when  the  action  com- 
menced— the  morning  of  llie  "2i'th  and  the  evening  of  th.- 2  Uh,  at  the 
close  of  the  oprrations.  There  has  been  much  delay  in  rendering 
BOine  of  the  subordinate  reports,  and  none  liave  been  received  from 
Lieutenant  Gec^ls  Folk  and  Hi!!,  and  only  two  from  brigades  in 
L-Jiigstreet's  corps.  The  absence  of  these  has  caused  a  delay  in 
r'.;'.king  up  my  own.  antl  imluced  me  to  defer  fonvavdipg  the  others, 
ht'ping  ;oat  ail  jnight  bi;  submitted  together. 

'  b'or  die  many  deeds  of  daring  and  aet"  of  lioroie  devotion  ohibited 
onr  this  Slid  reference  is  made  to  the  subordinate  leports.  It  will  be 
rem&rkeu  that  the  private  soMier  is  eminently  distinguished,  as  he 
always  will  be.  in  an  army  whore  the  rank  and  file  is  made  up  of  the 
bei't  citizens  of  the  country. 

The  medical  officers,  both  in  the  field  and  in  the  hospitals,  earned 
the  lasting  gratitude  of  the  soldier  and  deserve  the  highest  commen- 
dAtioa.  'Jhe  great  number  of  wounded  thrown  sud<lenly  upon  their 
fc-.<.nda  taxed  every  energy  and  every  faculty.  With  mi-ans  greatly 
Miadcquoto,  especially  in  transportation,  they  Roon  reduced  confusion 
into  order,  and,  by  assiiluity  and  skill,  aftorded  to  the  gallant  suf- 
ferers that  temporal  relief  fur  which  they  might  look  in  vain  to  any 
Other  source.  In  this  connection,  it  is  a  pleasing  duty  to  acknowlfdgo 
in  grateful  terms  the  deep  indebtedness  of  the  army  to  the  Hospital 
R.lief  Associations,  whicli  so  promptly  and  so  generously  pressed 
forward  their  muoh  needed  assistance.  Under  the  admirable  mimiige- 
ineot  of  their  officers  in  Atlanta,  we  were  soon  furnished  with  every 
ccoassry  and  comfort,  and  stores  continued  to  arrive  until  nftiee  was 
gi/cn  that  our  wants  were  all  supplied  The  officers  of  my  staff,  per- 
scnalacd  general,  served  me  on  this  fitdd  and  on  the  arduous  marches, 
proceeding  with  their  usual  zeal,  intelligence  anci  gallantry. 

The  whole  cavalry  force  h-.iving  been  despatched  to  press  the  enemy 
&nd  cut  cff  detachments,  orders  were  given  for  tho  army  to  move  to  a 


•1) 


17 

point  near  the  railroad  and  convenient  to  water,  Rtill  interposing 
between  the  enenjj  and*  our  large  number  of  wounded,  our  trophies, 
gnd  our  wounded  prisoners,  whose  removal  from  the  field  occupied 
many  days. 

(>ar  supplies  of  all  kinds  were  greitlj  reduced,  the  railroad  having 
\  coustantlv  occupied  in  transporting   troops,   prisoners,  and  our 
irided.  and  the  bridges  having  been  destrojed  to  a  point  two  miles 
8ouih  of  Ringgold.     These  supplies  were  ordi^red  to  be  repletiithe  1,  and 
as  soon  a?  it  was  seen  that  we  could  be  subsisted,  the  arinj  was  raovcd 
forward  to  seize  and  hold  the  only  com-uunicati'in  the  enemy  had  with 
his  supplies  iu  the  n-ar.     His  important  road,  and   the   shortest   by 
half  to  his  dt'pot  at  Bridgeport,  lay  along  the  south  bank  of  the  Ten- 
nessee.    The  holding  of  this  all  important  route  was  confided  to  Lieu- 
tenant General   Longstreet's  command,  and  its  possession  forced  too 
enemy  to  a  road  double  the  length,  over  two  rangrs  of  mountains,  bj 
wagon  transportation.     At  the  same  time,  our  cavalry,  in  large  force, 
was  thrown  across  the  river  to  operate  on  this  long  and  difficult  route. 
These  dispositions,  faithfully   sustained,  insured   the   enemy's  speedy 
evacuation  of  Chattanooga  for  want  of  food  and   forage.      Possessed 
of  the  shortest  road  to  his  depot,  and  the  one  by  which  reinforceraenta 
must  reach  him,  we  held  him  at  our  mercy,  and   his  destruction  wai 
only    a   question  of  time.       The  disastrous  loss  of  these  advantages 
n.u  t  be  the  subject  of  a  future  communication.     The  suggestion  of  a 
ement  by  our  right,  immediately  after  the  battle,  to   the   north  of 
Tennessee,    an^i    theiice    upon    Na.nhville.   requires    notice   onlj 
tc-cause  it  will  find  a  place  on  the   files  of  the  department.       Such  a 
movement  was  utterly  impossible  for  want  of  transportation.      Nearly 
'    '''  our   army   consisted   of  reinforcements   jjst    before   the   battle, 
out  a  wagon  or  an  artillery  horse,  and  ncirly,  if  iiot  quite,  a  third 
■'  e  artillery  horses  on  the  field  had  been  lost.     The  railroad  bridges, 
had  been  destroyed  to  a  point  souih  of  Ringgold,  and,  in  all,  the 
i  from  Cleveland  to  Knoxville.     To  these  insurraoutitable  difficnl- 
were  added  the  entire  absence  of  means  to  cross  the  river,  except 
rling  at  a  few  precarious  points   too  deep   for  artillery,  and  the 
known  danger  of  sudden  rises,  by  which  all  coimiunication  would 
it,  a  contingency  which  diii  ai'tuilly  happen  a  ftw  days  after  the 
nary  scheme  was  prnpi:.^d.      I'nt  the  luo.t  i-cri  jub  o''jt-cii'^u  .1  v'j9 
•  osition  was  its  entire  want  of  military  propriety       It  aban  loneJ 
e  enemy  our  entire  line  of  communication,  and  tail  open  to  hia 
depots  of  supplies,  whilst   it   placed   us   witn    a  greatly  inferior 
'•  beyond  a  difficult  and,  at   times,  impassable   river,  in  a  countrj 
affording  no  subsistence  to  men  or  animals.     It  also  left  open  to  the 
enemy,  at  a  distance  of  only  ten    miles,  our  battle  fitdil,   with   thon- 
e    eands  of  our  wounded  and  his  own,  and  all  the  trophies  and  supplies 
we  had  won.     All  this  wag  to  he  riHked  and  given  up  for  what?     To 
-    n  the  enemy's  rear  and  cut" him  rff  from   his  depot  of  supplies  by 
route  over  the  mountains,  when  the  very  moveuicnt  abar, Jiirifd  to 
■inmolested  use  the  better  and  more  practicable  rout*  "f  half  the 
jth  on  the  Booth  side  of  the  river.     It  ii  hardly  neceswry  to  aay 


18 

the  proposition  was  not  even  entertained,  whatever  may  have  been  the 
infereuces  drawn  from  subseijuent  movements'.  • 

I  am,  sir,  verj  respectfully,  voor  obedient  servant, 

BUAXTON  BRAGG,  General. 


Warm  Sfrings,  Ga.,  January  '2, ,1334. 

G<?neral  S.  Coopeh, 

Adjutant  Genera!,  C.  S.  A. : 

Sir  :  I  forward  the  report?  of  the  battle?  of  Chicitamauga  by  my 
aid-de-cainp,  Lieutenant  Ellis.  Tlie  maps  of  the  battle-field  have 
been  so  long  and  so  uneTpcctedly  delaj'ed  that  I  conclude  not  to  wait 
for  them  any  longer.  They  are  daily  e.tpected  from  Daltou,  where  I 
left  them  nearly  completed,  and  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  received. 
I  am,  sir,  very  rcspectfullv,  your  obedient  servant, 

I5HAXT0N  BRAGG,  Gmerd. 


RErORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  GENERAL  LONGSTREET. 

Ih-.ADQUARTERS    NEAR    CnATTANOOOA,  > 

October,  1862.      J 
Colonel  Georcc  Wm.  Brent, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  : 

CoLONEi, :  Our  train  reached  Oiitoosa  platform,  near  RinggoM,  about 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  of  September.  As  soon  ai4 
our  horses  came  up.  about  four  o'clock.  I  started  with  Colonel  Sorrel 
•nd  Colonel  .Manning,  of  my  PtaflT.  to  find  the  heaiquartors  of  the 
commanding  General.  We  mir'sod  our  way,  and  did  not  report  until 
near  eleven  o'clock  at  nisht.  Upon  my  arrival,  I  was  informed  th»t 
the  troops  had  been  engaged  during  the  day  in  severe  akirraishinz, 
while  endeavoring  to  get  in  line  for  battle.  The  commanding  Gene^ 
ral  gave  me  a  m;ip  showing  the  roada  and  streams  between  Lookout 
mountain  and  the  Chickamauga  river,  and  a  general  description  of  oar 
position,  and  informed  me  that  the  battle  was  ordered  at  daylight  the 
next  morning;  the  action  to  be  brought  on  upon  our  right,  and  to  be 
taken  up  successively  to  the  It-ft;  the  general  movement  to  be  awheel 
upon  my  extreme  left  as  a  pivot.  I  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  left  wing,  composed  of  Hood's  and  Hindman's  divisions,  an  im- 
provised division  under  Brigadier  General  15.  R  Johnson,  and  Buck- 
ner's  corps,  consisting  of  Stewart's  anj  I'rjston's  divisions.  The 
artillery  con.'isted  of  the  battalions  of  Majors  Williams,  Robertsoii 
and  Leyden,  together  with  some  other  batteries   attached  to  brigades. 

As  soon  as  day  of  the  2tlth  had  dawned,  I  rode  to  the  front  to  find 
my  troops.  The  line  was  arranged  from  the  right  to  left  as  follows  ; 
Stewart's,  Johnson's  Hindman's  and  Preston's  divisions.  Hood's  di- 
vision (of  which  only  three  brigades  were  up)  was  somewhat  in  the 
rear  of  Johnson's.  Kershaw's  and  Humphrey's  brigades,  McLaw's  di- 
rision,  were  ordered  forward  from  Ringgold  the  night  before,  but  were 
not  yet  up.  General  McLaws  had  not  arrived  from  Richmond.  I  set 
to  work  to  have  the  line  adjusted  by  closing  to  the  right,  in  order  Id 
occupy  some  vacant  ground  between  the  two  wings,  and  to  make  room 
for  Hood  in  the  front  line.  The  divisions  were  ordered  to  form  with 
two  brigades  in  the  front  line,  and  one  supporiing,  where  there  were 
but  three  brigades,  and  two  sujiporting  where  there  wore  more 
than  tlirec.  General  Hood  was  ordered  to  take  the  brigades  of  Ker- 
fhaw  and  Humphreys  and  use  them  as  supports  for  his  division,  thaa 
making  his  division  the  main  column  of  attack.  Before  these  arrange- 
ments were  completed,  the  attack  was  made  by  our  right  wing  about 
ten  o'clock.  The  battle  seemed  to  rage  with  considf  rable  fury,  hot 
did  not  progress  u  had  been  anticipated.  As  soon  as  I  w»«  prrpared, 
I  sent  to  the  commanding  General  to  suggest  that  1  had  probably  >)''iter 
make  my  attick.  Bffore  the  messengpr  returned,  I  beard  triat  the 
commaniling  General  had  s^nt  orders  for  the  division  commanders  to 
ttOTc  forward  and  attack.  I  had  no  time  to  find  the  officer  who  brotigkt 
tLe  order,  m  some  of  the  troops  were  in  motion  when  I  be»rd  of  it. 


20 

Upon  this  information,  I  at  once  issued  orilors  to  attack  to  the  troops 
not  already  in  motion,  lidding  one  of  Buckner's  divisions  (Preston's) 
in  reserve.  As  the  battle  upon  our  right  was  not  so  successful  as  hai 
been  expected  in  the  plan  of  attack,  I  was  obliged  to  reverse  the  or- 
der of  battle,  by  retaining  my  right  somewhere  near  the  left  of  the 
right  wing.  To  do  this,  Stewart's  division  was  obliged  to  halt  upon 
reaching  the  Lafayette  and  Chattanooga  road.  Hood's  column  broke 
the  enemy's  line  near  the  Brotherton  house,  and  made  its  wheel  to  the 
right.  In  inaking  this  movement,  Major  General  Hood  fell  severely, 
and  it  w.-^s  feared  mortally,  wounded,  by  a  minio  ball  breaking  his 
thigh,  lie  had  broken  the  enemy's  line,  however,  and  his  own  troops 
and  those  to  his  right  and  left  continued  to  press  the  enemy  with  such 
epirit  and  force  that  he  could  not  resist  us. 

Brigadier  Geneial  Law  succeeded  to  the  command  of  Hood's  divis- 
ion, and  Brigadier  General  Kershaw  to  the  command  of  the  two  bri- 
gades of  McLaws'  division.  General  Kershaw  having  received  no 
defiijite  orders  himself,  (being  under  the  command  of  General  Hood.) 
and  was  not  advised  of  the  wheel  to  the  right,  had  gained  more  ground 
to  the  front  than  was  intended  in  the  movement  of  his  two  brigades. 
Johnson's  division  followed  the  movement  made  by  Hood,  and  gained 
the  Crawfish  Spring  and  Chattanooga  road,  having  a  full  share  in  the 
conflict. 

Major  General  Ilindman,  in  command  of  my  left  division,  first  met 
the  enemy  near  the  Vineyard  house,  and  drove  him  back  upon 
Lis  strong  position  near  ^le  widow  Glenn's  or  burnt  house.  By 
a  well-directed  front  and  flank  attack,  he  gained  the  position  after 
a  severe  struggle.  The  enemy's  dead  at  this  point  mark  well  hia  line 
of  battle.  Ilindman  was  then  ordered  to  move  by  his  right  fl;ink  and 
reinforce  Johnson,  near  the  Villets  house,  who  was  pressing  forward 
against  great  odds. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  I  asked  the  commanding  Gen- 
eral for  some  of  the  troops  of  the  right  wing,*but  was  informed  by 
him  that  they  had  been  beaten  back  so  badly  that  they  could  be  of  no 
service  to  me.  I  had  but  one  division  that  had  not  been  engaged,  and 
hesitated  to  venture  to  put  it  in,  as  our  distress  upon  our  right  seemed 
to  be  almost  as  great  as  that  of  the  enemy  upon  his  right.  I  there- 
fore concluded  to  hold  Preston  for  the  time,  and  urge  on  to  renewed 
efforts  our  brave  men  who  had  already  been  engaged  many  hours.  The 
heights  extending  from  the  Villets  house  across  to  the  Snodgrass  house 
gave  the  enemy  strong  ground  upon  which  to  rally.  Here  he  gathered 
most  of  his  broken  forces  and  reinforced  tbem.  After  a  lo'ng  and 
bloody  struggle,  Johnson  and  Ilindman  gained  the  heights  near  the 
Crawfi.sh  Spring  road.  Kershaw  made  a  most  handsome  attack  upon 
the  heights  at  the  Snodgrass  house,  simultaneously  with  Johnson  and 
Hin(iman,  but  was  not  strong  enough  for  the  work.  It  was  evident 
that  with  this  position  gained,  I  should  be  complete  master  of  the  field. 
1  therefore  ordered  General  Buckner  to  move  Preston  forward.  Be- 
fore this,  however.  General  Buckner  had  establi.shed  a  battery  of  twelve 
guns,  raking  down  the  enemy's  line  which  opposed  our  right  wing, 
and  at  the  same  time  having  fine  play  upou  any  force  that  might  at- 


SI 

tempt  to  reinforce  the  hill   that  he  was  aliout  to  attack.     General 

Stewart,  of  his  corpe,  was  also  ordered  to  move  against  any  such  force 

in  (l;ink.     The  combination   was  well  timed   and   arranged.     Preston 

dashed  gallantly  at  the  hill.     Stewart   flanked  a  reinforcing  column, 

and  captured  a  large  portion  of  it.     At  the  same  time,  the  fire  of  the 

battery  struck  puch  terror  into  a  heavy  force  close  under  it,  that  we  took 

there  al.^o  a  large  number   of  prisoners.     Preston's   assault,   though 

not  a  complete  success  at  the  onset,  taken  in  connection  with  the  other 

operations,  crippled   the   enemy   so   badly  that  his  ranks  were  badly 

ken,  and    b)' a  flank  movement   and   another  advance  the  heights 

re  gained.     These  reinforcements  were  the  enemy's  last  or  reserve 

ps,  and  a  part  also  of  the   line   that  had   been  opposing  our  right 

iig  during  the  morning.     Tbe  enemy  broke  up  in  great  confusion 

iig  my  front,  and,  about  the  same  time,  the  right  wing  made  a  gal- 

it  dash  and  gained  the   line   that  had   been   held  so  long  and  obsti- 

ily  against  it.     A  simultaneous  and  continuous  shout  from  ihe  two 

iigs  announced  our  success  complete.     The  enemy  had  fought  every 

n  that  he  had,  and  every  one  had  been  in  turn  beaten.     As  It  was 

list  dark,   I  ordereil   my   line   to  remiin   as  it  was ;  ammunition 

xi'S  to  be  refilled,  stragglers  to  be  collected,  and  everything  in  rea- 

.'«s  for  the  pursuit  in  the  morning. 

Marly  on  the  2ist,  the  comraamlimg  General  stopped  at  ray  bivouac 
1  asked  my  views  as  to  our  future  movements.     I  suggested  cross- 

•  the  river  above  Chattanooga,  so  as  to  make  ourselves  sufficiently 
;  on  the  enemy's  rear,  as  to  force  his  wacnatidBbf  Chattanooga — 
:•  ed,  force  him  back  upon  Nashville,  and,  i|^^  should  find  out 
.ispoitation  inidcjuate  for  a  continuance  of  tl^^iovement,  to  fol- 
'  up  the  railroad  to  Knoxville,  destroy  Burnside,  and  from  there 
■r'alen  the  enemy's  railroad  communication  in   rear  of  Nashville. 

1  his  I  supposed  to  be  the  only  practicable  flank  movement,  owing 

the  scarcity  of  our  transportation;   and  it  seemed  to  keep  us  very 

rly   as    clo3e   to   the  railroad  r.s  we  were  at  the  time.     At  parting 

inderstood  the  commanding  General  to  agree  that  such  was  proba- 

•  our  best  move,  and  that  he  was  about  to  give  the  necessary  orders 
r  its  execution.  Orders  came  in  the  afternoon  for  the  march.  Thft, 
ir  of  the  right  wing  did  not  move  until  quite  dark.  I  did  not,  there- 
'".  put  my  wing  in  motion  till  daylight  the  following  morning.   Be- 

f  moving  on    the  morning   of  the  22d,   McLaws'   division  was  or- 

rrd  to  follow  the  enemy  on  to  Chattanooga.     The  remainder  of  the 

-'.matid  marched  for    the  Red  house  ford,  and  halted   about  noon. 

iring  tbat   night   I   received  orders   to   march  the  entire  command 

k  to  Chattanooga,  and   moved  in   pursuance   thereof  early  on  the 

i.     Wc  reached  the  Watkins  house  about  eleven    o'clock,  A.  M., 

I  proceeded  to  take  up  a  line  around  the  enemy's  position  at  Cbat- 

•I'Oga.     1  desire  to  mention  the  following  named  oflicers  as  dmtin- 

.-hed  for  conduct  and  ability,  viz  :   Miijor  Gpnerals  Hood,  Buckner, 

ridman  and  Stewart;  Brig.  Generals  B.  R.  Johnson,  Preston.  Law, 

''peciivcly  in   command  of  division,)  Kershaw,  I'atton,  Andpr»iiii, 

icie,  McNair,  (severely  wounded.)  and  Colonels   Trigg  arid  K'dly, 

■    :h  in   command  of  brigades.     Honorable   mention  should  also  bo 


made  of  Brigadier  Generals  Ilumphroys,  Benning,  Deas,  Clayton, 
Bate,  Brown,  Robertson  and  Manigault.  For  more  detailed  accounts 
of  the  noble  deeds  performed  by  our  gallant  officers  and  brave  sol- 
diers, I  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  my  junior  officers.  The  steady, 
good  conduct  throughout  the  long  conllict  of  the  subordinnte  officers 
and  racn  which  the  limits  of  this  report  will  not  permit  me  to  partic- 
ularize, is  worthy  of  the  highest  praise  and  admiration.  I  am  greatly 
indebted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Sorrel,  assistant  adjutant  general, 
Lieutenat  Colonel  Manning,  chief  of  ordnance,  Major  Latrobe,  as- 
sistant adjutant  and  inspector  general  and  Captain  Manning,  signal 
corps,  for  their  able,  untiring  and  gallant  assistance.  Colonel  Man- 
ning received  a  painful  wound.  The  movement  of  Stewart's  division 
against  the  enemy's  reinforcements  was  made  upon  the  suggestion  of 
Colonel  Sorrel  and  Captain  Manning.  The  result  was  the  beginning 
of  the  general  break  throughout  the  enemy's  line.  My  other  statf 
ofEcers  had  not  arrived  from  Virginia.  Major  Walton,  acting  chief  of 
subsistence  department,  and  Mujor  Keilly,  acting  chief  of  quarter- 
master's department,  were  at  the  railroad  depot  in  the  active  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  their  departments.  Among  the  captures  made  by  the 
left  wing  during  the  day,  were  not  less  than  forty  pieces  of  artillery, 
over  three  thousand  prisoners,  and  ten  regimental  standards,  besides 
a  few  wagons,  seventeen  boxes  small  arms,  eleven  hundred  and  thirty 
sets  accoutrements,  and  th.ree  hundred  and  ninety-three  thousand 
rounds  small  arm  ammunition,  wore  collected  on  the  field.  The  ac- 
companying list  of#asualtie8  shows  a  lose  by  the  command  (without 
McNair's  brigado^ifitom  which  no  report  has  been  received)  of  one 
thousand  and  eighty  nine  killed,  six  thousand  five  hundred  and  six 
wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  seventy-two  missing.  Its  strength  on 
going  into  action  on  the  2l)th  was  two  thousand  and  thirty-three  offi- 
cers and  twenty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-nine  men. 
1  have  the  honor  to  be.  Colonel, 

Very  respectfully,  voiir  obedient  servant, 
J.  LONGSTREET, 

Lieutenant  General. 


-  ^^7^ 'f'/7^/i  <  <  / 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  S.  E.  BUCKNER. 

llEiiDQr.\RTKRS  NT.AR  CHiTTANOOGA,  Novciuber  11,  18C3. 

Colonel  SoRRfL, 

Assist'int  Adjutant  General  T.rmgstrec'^s  Corps  : 

'  "LONEi. :   I  hnve  the  honor  to  submit,  incannection  with  the  report*? 
of  my  subordinate  cninmanderB,  the  following  synopsis  of  the  military, 
movements  of  Buckner's  corps  on   the  18th,  19lh  ana  2(ith  Septem- 
ber, 18G3: 

The  corps  consisted  of  the  division  of  Major  General  A.  P.  Stewart, 
which  was  coraposo'l  of  Johnson's,  Brown's,  Bate's  and  Clayton's 
brigades,  and  of  the  division  of  Brigadier  General  William  Preston, 
composed  of  the  brigades  of  Brigadier  General  Gracie  and  of  Colo- 
nels Trigg  and  Kelly,  of  a  battalion  of  artillery  to  each  division,  and 
a  battalion  of  reserve  artillery,  under  Major  S.  C.  Williams.  Briga- 
dier General  Johnson's  brigade  having  been  detached  several  daya  • 
before,  by  orders  from  army  headquarters,  was  engaged  under  its 
gallant  commander  under  the  orders  of  another  corps  commander, 
and  did  not  report  to  me  until  two  days  after  the  battle. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ISth,  I  moved  from  a  point  on  Peavine 
creek,  midway  between  Peavine  church  and  Rock  Spring  cb'irch.  un- 
der orders  to  cross  the  West  (.'hickamanga  river  at  Thedford's 
ford,  after  Major  General  Walker's  division  had  succeeded  in  crossing 
below  me.  Part  of  my  route  being  common  with  that  of  Walker'e 
column,  my  march  was  somewhat  retarded  by  the  encounter  of  tho 
two  columns,  but  notwithstanding  this  I  occupied,  about  two,  P.  M., 
with  Stewart's  division,  after  a  brisk  skirmish,  the  crossing  at  Thed- 
ford's  ford,  and  with  Preston's  division,  without  opposition,  the  cross- 
ing at  Hunt's  or  I'alton's  ford.  In  this  position,  holding  both  banks 
of  the  stream,  I  awaited  the  movettentB  of  Walker,  on  my  right. 

At  daylight  on  the  l.'^Uh.  under  instructiuns  from  the  commanding 
'■T»,\,  I  crossed  my  entire  corps  to  the  west  bank  and  formed  it  in 

'  "f  battle — Stewart  on  the  right,  (o»  the  left  of  Hood's  division.) 
facing  southwest,  in  the  direction  of  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill  ;  General 
Cheatham's  division,  as  I  was  informed,  being  directed  to  sustain  me 
in  the  proposed  advance.  About  noon,  when  the  enemy's  attack  on 
Walker  had  been  met,  and  Cheatham's  division,  which  bad  been  sent 
to  sustain  hiiu,  had  become  hotly  engaged,  Stewart's  division  was  de- 
tached, by  the  orders  of  the  commanding  General,  to  support  Cheat- 
bam.  For  the  operations  of  his  division  until  he  again  came  under 
ay  orders,  on  the  following  afternoon,  I  refer  to  the  report  of  its 
able  commander. 

In  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  commanding  General,  I  remained 
with  my  remaining  division  to  hold  the  extreme  left  of  the;  line. 
With  this  view  I  deplrycd  Pre'ton's  division  on  a  line  extending  from 
an  abrupt  elevation  on  the  bank  of  the  river  along  a  ridge  in  a  north- 
"""*t  direction — the  ffauks  well  sustained  by  artillery.     Considerable 


24 

skirmishing  took  pl.jce  towsr.ls  the  right  of  tliis  lino— the  enemy 
falling  back  in  a  southwest  direction — anil  the  troops  were  considefj- 
bly  exposed  to  artillery  fire  during  the  day.  Being  informed  by  a 
staff  officer  of  the  commanding  General  that  General  Hood,  who  had 
advmced  to  my  right,  was  h^rd  pressed,  and  being  requested  to  rein- 
force him  as  far  as  1  could,  I  inline  liatoly,  about  three  o'clock,  P.  M., 
sent  to  his  assistance  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Trigg.  The  gallant  and 
successful  charge  of  ihis  brigade  drove  back  the  advancing  enemy  and 
relieved  the  left  of  Hood,  which  was  out-3ankcd  and  retiring  before 
,the  enemy's  heavy  attack.  During  the  day  both  Stewart's  divisioa 
and  Trigg's  briga:ic  had  penetrat-id  the  enemv'a  line  and  passed  be- 
yonii  the  Chattanooga  road  ;  hut  at  night  both  were  drawn  back  into 
positions  which  would  conform  to  the  general  line,  whi^  h  hail  pushed 
forward  during  the  day's  ac'inn.  During  the  night  of  the  19th  I 
maieiially  strengthened  the  position  on   the  left  by  ctitrcnchments. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2!lth,  Lieutenant  Ger<eral  Longstreet  as- 
sumed con;niand  of  the  li'ft  wing.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
he,  in  person,  ordered  me  to  conduct  Pre.^ton's  division,  leaving  one 
regiment  and  a  battery  to  hold  the  left,  to  the  Chattanooga  road. 
Between  three  and  four  o'clock  it  was  formed  as  follows :  Graine's 
and  Kelly's  brigades  in  two  lines,  at  viglit  angles  to  the  road  north 
of  Erotliertou's,  and  just  in  rear  of  I'oe's,  commonly  called  the 
"burnt  house;"  Trigg's  brigade  just  south  of  Brothertoa's  housc, 
and  supporting  Williams'  artillery.  At  this  time  Stewart  was  in 
line,  his  left  adviinced  in  front  of  Preston's  right,  his  right  recediug, 
forming  an  obtuse  angle  with  Preston's  line.  In  his  front  was  a 
heavy  breastwork  of  logs,  on  the  summit  of  a  slight  ridge  heavily 
wooded  and  strongly  held  by  the  enemy's  infantry  and  artillery.  His 
light  liank  was  opposite  the  angle  of  this  work;  his  centre,  facing 
towards  the  northwest,  was  opposed  to  the  Hank  of  the  work,  which 
was  perpendicular  to  the  road.  On  3:ewart's  right,  in  front  of  the 
face  of  the  work,  ami  parallel  to  the  Chattanooga  road,  was  Cleburne's 
division,  of  Hill's  corjis.  Brigadier  General  Laws'  brigade,  of  Hood's 
division,  was  in  line  perpendicular  to  the  road  to  the  left,  and  slightly 
in  advance  of  Preston,  and  clo.se  by  the  burnt  house,  (Poe's,)  near 
which  was  a  battery  of  Hood'w  artillery.  A  personal  reconnoissance, 
in  company  with  the  Lieutenant  General  con  manding,  showed  aa 
advantageous  position  for  artillery  in  front  of  Poe's  burning  house, 
from  which  point  the  enemy's  main  line,  which  fronted  eastward  and 
■was  situated  a  little  to  the  east  of  Kelly's  field,  was  e.xposed  to  an 
enfilade  fire,  or  rather  to  a  fire  slightly  in  reverse.  His  right  Hank, 
as  before  stated,  was  thrown  back  at  right  angles  to  the  road,  and 
was  located  behind  log  breastworks,  in  the  heavy  wood  between  Poe's 
and  Kelly's  field's.  As  the  enemy's  right  had  been  beaten  back,  it 
had,  by  a  convension  on' this  angle  of  their  work  as  a  pivot,  been 
gradually  driven  to  sSHume  a  position  also  at  right  angles  to  the 
road,  his  right  resting  on  a  chain  of  heights  beginning  near  Snod- 
grass'  house,  about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  Kelly's  house,  on  the 
road,  and  extending  westward  about  one  mile  to  the  Crawfish  road. 
These  heights  constitute   the   southern  sjurs  which  terminate  Mis- 


sionary  rilge,  are  covered  with  open  wools,  have  a  gontie   but   irre- 
gular slope  on  the  south,  the  north   and   the  cast,  ancl   their  summits 
are  fully  a  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  surrounding  country. 
•  A  little  after  fuur  o'clock,  P.  M.,  under  instructions  from  the  Lieu- 
tenant General  commanding.    I   ordered    Preston,  with   Grscie's  and 
Kelly's  brigides,  to  support  Ker-haw's   brig'ile   in   t.he  attack  on  the 
heights  near  Snodgraas'  house,  sustaining  him  afterwards  by  Trigg's 
brigade.   Under  the  able  direction  of  Hiig.  Gen.  Preston,  the  first  two 
brigades  pissed  Kershaw's  and   Anderson's  brigiles.  which  had  suf- 
fered severely  in  the  action,  and,  with  great  impetuosity,  assailed  the 
enemy  in  his  almcst  impregnable  position.    Trigg,  on  coming  up,  was 
directed  to  the   left  cf  Kelly,  and,  joining  in    a  siraultaneous    move- 
ment of  Brigadier  General    B.   R.  Johnson's  division  still  firther  to 
the  h'ft,  picrcefl  and  turned   the   eni^my's   line,  and',  in   copjnnction 
■with  Kelly,  Gracie  and  Robertson,  drove  him  trom  his  stroug  position 
into  the  ravines  beyond,  whcie  a  l*rge  number  of  prisoners  were  cap- 
tured.    For  the  details  of  tlxj*  brilliant   action   I   refer   you  to    the 
graphic  report  of  P>rig.'vdier  General   Preston.      While  this  action  was 
progressing,  the  Lieutenant  General    commanding  directed   Stewart's 
division  to  advance  and  to  ail  the  combined  attick.     I  ordered,  by 
'i-s  :uithority,  Williams'  battalion  of  reserve  artillery  to  be  placed  in 
ion  in  front  of  Poe's  house.    This  was  done  under  the  immediate 
rtion   of  MHJor  Poitcr,  my  chief  of  artillery.     About  this  time 
■neniy  were  moving  reinforceinents  to  sustain  his  right,  which  was 
jj;eriiig    under    the  terrific   assault   of   Prcrton.      Williams,   with 
.   n  pieces  of  artillery,  opmed  upon   this  reinforcing  column  with 
ructive  effect,  disposing  it   in   every  direction   and  silencing  his 
■    '?ry.     At  the  same  time,   Stewart  assiulted  the  enemy's  woiks 
raptured  a  number  of  prisoners,  who  dared  not  cross  the  stream 
::re  which  Williams  poured  across  their  path.    Stewart,  in  advanc- 
:  ;:.  al.30  ihrcw  forward  one  of  his  batteries,  which  joined  in  the  fire. 
.\^  be  advanced,  I  conducted  Darden's  battery,  of  Williams'  artillery, 
i\e!ly"s  field,  but  this  battery,  as  well  as  Stewart's  division,  it  now 
g  nightfall,  was  withdrawn  into  the  edge  of  the  wood,  as  we  en- 
r>  nnffred  in  our  advance  the  right  wing  of  our  army,  which  joined 
in  the  assault  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  was  moving  in   a  direction 
perp'-ndicular  to  our  line  of  march.     The  continued  cheers  of  tho 
army   announced,  at   dark,  that   ev^ry  point   of  the   field   had  been 
gained.     Stewart  bivouacked   within   the  entrenchments   he   had  as- 
saulted; Preston,  upon  the  heights  he  had  so  gillantly  won. 

For  the  details  of  the  action  of  which  this  report  is  only  a  brief 
Bynop?i«,  and  a  notice  of  individual  conduct,  I  respectfully  refer  you 
to  the  reports  of  the  -division,  brigade  and  regimental  commanders, 
»nd  of  the  chief  and  battalion  commanders  of  the  artillery,  which  are 
herewith  transmitted. 

To  the  gentlemen  of  my  staff  I  am  indebted  for  their  prompt  and 
gnllant  di«charge  of  du*y  on  every  occa^iion.  No- commendation  from 
me  can  add  to  the  well-earned  reputation  of  Major  General  Stewart 
^•nd  his  able  brigadiers — .Johnson,  who  was  detached  and  in  command 
of  an  improvised  division,   Crown,  Bate  and   Clijton.     They  were 


26 

wortlij  leaders  of  the  brave  troops,  nearly  all  of  them  veterans,  ■wlinr 
thoy  eo  gallantly  led.     Upon  Hrigadior  General  Preston  and  his  brij 
ally  commanders,  Brigadier  General  Gracie  and  Colonels  Trigg  an  i 
Kelly.  1  cannot  bestow  higher  praise  timu  to  say,  that  their  conduct 
and  example  were  such  as  to  convert  a   body  of  troops,  but  few  of 
whom  hail  before  been  under  fire,  into  a  division  of  veterans  in  their 
first  battle.     Stewart's  veterans  maintained  the  reputation  they  had 
won  on   many  fields.     Preston's  troops  emulated  their  example  an 
equalled  them  in  merit. 

The  recapitulation  of  the  heavy  los.?es  sustained  in  both  divisions 
is  a  sad  testimony  of  tho  soldierly  qualities  of  the  survivors.  Few 
troops,  who  have  suffered  so  heavily,  have  been  victorious  on  the 
field  of  their  los.ses.  But  the  result  is  only  another  evidence  of  the 
invincible  spirit  -of  our  people,  which,  under  the  guidance  of  Provi- 
dence, must  finally  win  us  our  independeuco  as  a  nation. 
I  am,  Colonel,  very  rc.'=pectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

♦       8.  B.  BUCKNER, 
Major  General  lattly  commanding  Barkuer's  Corps. 


^'r-     "/■'-■  /.;,,    y 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  FRANK  PORTER. 

Headquarters  Bucknf.r's  Division.      ) 

Niar  Chattanooga,  Nuv.  10,  18G3.  \ 

To  Miijor  ^ViLLiAM  F.  Martin, 

Asshtant  Adjutant  General : 

Major  :  I  have  the  honor  to  sulimit  the  following  report  of  the  ope- 
rations of  the  artillery  of  General  Huckner's  corps,  at  the   battle  of 
rhickaraau;^a,  and  consisted  of  Williams'  battalion  of  four  b&ttcries ; 
'    yden's  battalion  of  three   batteries,    and   three   batteries   of  Major 
cral  Stewart's  division,  acting  vrith  their  brigades.     Lcyden's  bat- 
jn  was  attached  to  Brigadier  General   Preston's  division,  and  by 
-  order  one  battery  was  attached  to  each  of  his  brigades. 
As  most  of  the  ground  over.which  the  battle  was  fought  was  very 
kly  wooded,  wre  could  not  see  more  than   three. hundred  yards  to 
front,  consequently  could    very   seldom   use  .artillery.     For   this 
:   ,.:  on  the  batteries  of  Ma  jor'General  Stewart's  division  fired  but  a  few 
K  fts,  though  they  were  left  in   exposed  positiona  and   lost  between 
twenty  and  thirty  horses.  Twoof  the  batteries  of  Ley  den's  battalion  were 
engaged  Saturday  and  Sunday,  but  owing  to  the  thickness  of  the  timber 
-  •  i  undergrowth  continued  but  a  short  time.  They  were  unable  to  ascer- 
I  the  damage  they  inflicted.     They  suffered  but  a  plight  loss  thera- 
»(S.     One  of  his  batteries  (JefTries')  was  held  on  the  extreme  left 
the  original  line  until  the  battle  ceased.     Williams'  battalion  was 
t  as  reserve,  and  on  Saturday  morning  was  placed  in  position  on 
ridgo  which  Preston's  division  occupied.     When  Stewart's  division 
'  carried  to  the  right  of  the  line.  Brigadier  General  Mackall,  Gen- 
eral Bragg's  chief  of  staff,  ordered  that  all  the  artillery  that  could  be 
spared  from  the  corps  should  be  placed  in  the  position  just  vacated  by 
'  '■rcral  Stewart.     In  obedience   to  this  order.    Major    Williams   was 
'ted  to  post  two  of  his  batteries  tliere,  and  remain  to  repel  any 
ailt  that  the  enemy's  infantry  might   make.     He   remained  there 
•  ral  hours,  part  of  the  lime  under  a  heavy  artillery  fire  which  he 
.'id  not  return,  as  our  fuses  are  so  uncertain  that  he  would  have  run 
the  risk  cf  killing  our   own  men  by  firing  over  their  heads.      He  re- 
mained there  till  about  sundown,  when  he  was  moved  back  to  his  for- 
mer position,  where  he  remained  till  the  left  made  its  move  to  the  front 
and  right  on  Sunday.     He  was  then  ordered  to  leave  Baxter's  battery 
to  assist  Jcff"rieB  in  holding  the  bluff  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line, 
and  move  with  Lis  three  other  batteries  in  rear  f  f  Preston's  division. 
After  getting  to  tho  Chattanooga  road,  he  was  placed  in  several  posi- 
tions to  check  the  expected  moves  of  the  enemy,  but  did  not  get  into 
action  till  about  five,  P.  M.     This  was  when  Preston's  division  was  in 
the  hottest  of  the  fight,  and  the  enemy  was  crossing  the  Chattanooga 
road  in  large  numbers  to  reinforce  that  part  of  their  army  holding  the 
kill  to  the  left.     Major  Williams  was  then    ordered   to  take   position 
•boot  a  thousand  yards  from  where  thcj  were  crossing  and  open  fir* 


with  hre  three  batterieR.  Tliis  be  did,  with  great  execution,  silencing 
the  cni'niy's  artillery,  cutting  off  the  reinforcements,  and  enabling  the 
infantry  to  capture  between  five  and  six  hundred  prisoners.  All  the 
officers  and  men  acted,  whenever  they  had  an  opportunity  of  doing 
BO,  with  courage  and  coolness.  Enclosed  are  reports  of  the  battalion 
commanclcrs. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS   K.  PORTER, 
31<tjnr  and  Chi  if  of  Arlilkry. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  A.  V.  STEWART. 

IIeadqi'artkrs  Stew,*rt"s  Division,       ) 
Near  Chattanooga,  Tinn.,  October  lo,  1563.  ) 

Captain  J.  N.  Gallaher, 
[  Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Sir:  This  division,  constituting  at  the  time  a  part  of  Buckncr'a 
corps,  with  the  exception  of  Johnson's  brigade  detached,  marched,  on 
Thursday  morninp.  September  17th,  1863,  from  Lafayette,  Georgia, 
in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga.  We  bivouacked  for  the  night  on  I'ca- 
vinc  creek,  and  resumed  the  inarch  next  morning  with  Bate's  brigade 
in  front,  Clayton's  following,  and  Brown's  in  rear,  the  column  taking 
the  direction  to  Thedford's  ford  on  the  west  Chickamauga.  Arriving 
during  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  the  I8tb,  within  a  mile  or  less  of  the 
ford.  Major  General  Buckner  directed  me  to  occupy  the  high  ground 
in  its  vicinity,  commanding  the  approaches  to  it,  but  not  to  bring  on 
an  engagement  with  the  enemy,  who  were  near  at  hand,  unless  neces- 
sary. With  the  aid  of  Major  Nocquet,  of  the  engineers.  Bate's  and 
Clayton's  brigades,  with  their  batteries,  were  placed  in  position  on  the 
wooded  heights,  respectively,  below  and  above  the  ford.  Brown's 
being  drawn  up  in  reserve  in  rear  of  Clayton's.  The  Eufala  bat- 
tery, Captain  Oliver  commanding,  and  Caswell's  battalion  of  sharp- 
Bhooters,  both  of  Bate's  brigade,  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy,  in  the 
direction  of  Alexander's  bridge,  who  soon  retired.  Three  companies 
from  Clayton's  brigade  were  then  sent  across  the  stream  to  occupy, 
^89  skirmishers,  a  wooded  hill  beyond,  and  after  nightfall  his  entire 
',  brigade  crossed. 

Early  Saturday  morning,  the  19th,  the  other   two  brigades   passed 
;  on,   and    formed   in    rear  of  Clayton's.       The   commanding    General 
coming  up  soon  after,  and  receiving  information  that  the  troops  which 
had  crossed  the  stream  lower  down  had  advanced  and  established  their 
lir.r  in  front  of  and  nearly  at  right  angles  to  Preston's,  whose  divis- 
'  nd    passed  the  stream  above    and  was  then  on    my  left.  General 
'  'ler  directed  me  to  move  forward  and  form  on  the  left  of  this  line, 
was   done,  Clayton  forming  on  the   lefc  of  McNair,  whose  bri- 
constituted  part  of  an  impromptu  division,  commanded  by  Briga- 
dier  General    B    R   Johnson,  Brown  and    Bate  in    rear.      Preston's 
division  was  then  formed  on  my  left,  also  in  three  lines,  all  fronting 
nearly  or  quite  to  the  west.     While  in  this  position   the  Eufala    bat- 
tery (three-inch  rifled  puns)  was  sent  forward  by  General  Buckner's 
order,  a»  I  was  informed,  and  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  position  in 
I  front.     The  enemy  replied  with  shell  and  round  shot,  wounding  a  few 
of  our  men.     A  sabscqnent  change,  made   also   by  order  of  General 
^Vner,  moved  ns  a  space  equal  to  brigade  front  directly  to  the  right. 
:  after  making  thi«  change  of  position,  and,  as   I    supposed,  near 
II.  Major  Pollock  B.  I/ce  brought  me  an  order  from  the  coromand- 
'ienerftl  to  move  to  the  point  where  firing  had  commenced,  which 


3(1 

reetneil  to  be  a  consi'lcrsMc  disti»nco  to  the  ri^ht  and  somewhat  to  tho 
reur  of  us.  IJeforc  raoving  I  vrent  to  Goiierul  l>ragg  liimSBlf,  who 
va8  near  by,  in  order  to  get  more  specific  directions.  Lie  informed 
rrio  that  Walker  was  engaged  on  the  right,  was  much  cut  up,  and  tho 
enemy  threatening  to  turn  his  flank,  that  General  I'olk  was  in  com- 
mand on  that  wing,  and  that  I  must  be  governed  by  circumstances. 
Moving  by  the  right  llauk  in  the  direction  indicated,  from  half  a  mile 
to  a  mile,  wo  arrived  near  a  corn-field,  beyond  which  the  heaviest 
firing  was  heard.  Messengers  were  sent  in  searoli  of  Cener.il  Polk, 
but  wiiliout  success,  and  fciring  to  lose  too  much  time,  I  deteruiincJ 
to  mcve  upon  the  enemy  across  the  corn-fipbl.  Lieutenant  W.'B. 
l'vichuion<l,  aid  to  (lencral  Polk,  confirmed  me  in  this  design.  Ila 
came  up  in  search  of  the  General  himself,  and  told  me  th:vt,  from 
what  he  knew  of  tho  nature  of  the  groun<l  and  situation  of  the  enemy,  ] 
a  better  point  at  which  to  attnck  them  could  not  be  found.  Accord-  ■ 
ingly,  Jirigadier  General  Claj'ton  was  directed  to  advance,  and  it  is  but  : 
just  to  this  excellent  officer  and  his  fine  brigade  to  say  that  they  moved 
forward  to  this  their  first  engagement  with  great  spirit  and  alacrity,  . 
and  in  admirable  order.  Major  Hatcher,  of  my  staff,  was  sent  with 
them  to  bring  me  intelligence,  ancl  [  followed  myself  until  overtaken 
by  an  uid  of  Brigadier  (Jeneral  Wright,  of  Cheatham's  divi^ion,  who 
informed  me  that  Wright's  brigade  had  been  turned  by  the  enemy  on 
its  left,  its  battery  captured  and  the  General  needed  aid.  Passing  « 
short  distance  towards  the  left,  and  meeting  General  Wright  he  in- 
forn  ed  me  that  hi.-i  brigade  had  fallen  back,  leaving  his  battery  in  tho 
hands  of  the  enemy.  This,  at  least,  was  the  substance  of  what  he  said, 
according  to  my  recollection.  Brigadier  General  Brown  was  imme- 
diately ordered  to  advance,  and,  soon  after,  it  was  discovered  that 
Clayton's  brigade  had  obliqued  to  the  left  and  was  moving  forward  in 
our  front.  After  a  severe  engagement  of  near  an  hour,  during  which 
he  8ustaine(i  a  loss  of  nearly  four  hundred  officers  and  men,  General 
Clayton  withdrew  to  ropk-nish  his  exhausted  ammunition,  and  his 
place  was  supplieil  by  General  Brown.  This  gallant  officer  with  his 
veteran  command  advanced  rapidly,  driving  the  enemy  before  them 
ceveriil  hundred  yards  through  a  dense  undergrowth  and  routing  his 
tirtit  line,  driving  it  back  upon  his  second,  which  was  posted  on  a  slight 
rid;3P,  and  supported  by  artillery.  Advancing  upon  this  line,  under 
»  terrific  fire  from  all  arms,  the  enemy  were  forced  from  tho  ridge, 
whirh  was  occupied,  but  from  which  the  brigade  soon  withdrew,  in 
consequence  of  a  force  of  the  enemy  threatening  its  right. 

After  passing  the  dens)  undergrowth  mentioned,  the  horses  wee 
killed  and  gunners  driven  from  several  field  pieces  opposite  the  centre 
and  right  of  the  brigade.  Three  of  them,  six-pounder  rifled  brass 
pieces,  were  brought  off  by  Lieutenant  Anderson,  commanding  D:)W- 
fon's  battery,  and  two  others  by  other  troops  of  the  division.  The 
left  regiment  (twenty-sixth  Tennessee)  also  drove  tho  enemy  from 
nnother  battery,  three  pieces  of  which  were  left  between  the  opposing 
lines,  but  were  not  brought  ofl".  Tiie  brigade  sustained,  during  this 
engagement,  a  heavy  loss  in  ollicers  and  men.  It  being  necessary  to 
relieve  Brown,  Bale's  brigade  was  brought  up  and  received  by  the  ene- 


31 

my  with  as  bot  a  fire  as  had  successively  greeted  Clayton  and  Brown. 
Attackinp.  however,  with  their  usual  impetuosity,  they  drove  the  cne- 
niy  back,  forcing  him  to  witlidraw  his  batteries  and  to  abandon  one 
-ition  after  another,  losing  and  recapturing  a  piece  of  artillery,  and 
tsting  from  him  the  llig  of  the  fifty-first  Tennessee  regiment, 
'"right's  brigade.  Clayton's  brigade  beinj  again  brought  forward  as 
i  support  to  Hate,  the  two  pressed  on,  driving  the  enemy  beyond  the 

•  ad  leading  to  Chattanooga.  Clayton's  brigade,  with  a  portion  of 
ite's,  continued  the  pursuit  for  half  a  mile  beyond  this  road,  when, 

cinsequence  of  threatening  movements  on  the  right  and  left,  they 

i'.il  back  leisurely  about  sunset,  reforming  on  the  east  side  of  the  road. 

In  these  charges  the  fifteenth   and  thirty-seventh    Tennessee  regi- 

■  nta.  Colonel  Tyler  commanding,  captured  four  pieces  of  artillery, 

'i  Clayton's  brigade,  aided  by  the   fifty-eighth    Alnhama,  of  H.ite's 

(    igade,  (Colonel  Bush  Jones   commanding.)    captured  three   pieces. 

I  uiing  the  whole  of  these  seTeral  engagements  the  enemy's  fire  was 

•ly  heavy  and  destructive,  and  each  brigade  suffered  severely,  both 

(  fficers  and  mea.     Their  conduct  was  most  gratifying  and  needs  no 

use  from  me. 

As  the  result  of  the  afternoon's  work,  to  which  each  brigade  con- 
tributed its  full  share,  I  claim  that  we  rescued  the  battery  of  Wright's 
igade  and  the  flag  of  one  of  his  regiments,  that  twelve  pieces  of 
illery  were  wrested  from  the  enemy,  from  two  to  three  hundred 
^oners  were  captured  and  several  hundred  stands  of  small  arms  se- 
tod  and  sent  to  the  rear,  and  the  enemy's  line  pierced  near  its  centre 
.1  driven  back  beyond  the  Chattanooga  road.     Among  the  prisoners 

•  .3  Lieutenant  Colonel  Von  Schraden,  assistant  inspector  general  on 
"  ?tafF  of  the  Federal  Gt;neral  Thomas.  Of  the  artillery  actually 
T'tured,  I  am  unable  to  ascertain  ho,w  many  pieces  were  ultimately 

ured.     After  night.  Major  Eldridgo,   chief  of  artillery,  sent  four 

•  'Cis  and  one  caisson  beyind  the  Chickamauga. 

The  men  being  exhausted,  and  night  approaching,  after  distributing 
munition.  Brown's  brigade  was  formed  in  front,  facing  the  Chatta- 
ga  road;  Clayton  on  the  right  and  facing  in  that  direction,  as  there 
re  no  troops  of  ours  within  half  a  mile   of  us  towards   the   right. 

t  ite's  brigade  on  the  left  and  in  rear  of  Brown's.     During  the  night 

■  rivmber  of  stragglers  from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  were  picked  up 
I  sent  to  the  rear  by  ray  skirmishers  or  pickets.  I  should  have 
■ed  that  owing  to  the  difficulties  of  the  ground,  its  advantages  being 
igether  with  the  enemy,  it  was  found  impracticable  to  use  artillery, 
iring  the  night  the  enr-my  were  heard  constructing  defences,  and 
Ting  artillery  towards  his  left. 

After  leaving  General  Bragg,  as  rr.entioned,  I  saw  no  ofScer  whose 
•ik  was  superior  to  my  own  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  Having  been 
arated  from  the  corps  to  which  the  division  was  attached,  a  staff 
''cr  was  sent  after  night — the  earliest  moment  practicable — to  re- 

;    rt  to  Major  General  15nckner,  who  directed  that  we  should  remain 

.:.  position  until  further  orders. 

Karly  the  next  morning,  2(ith.  Lieutenant  General  Longstrect.  who 
1  ariived  during  the  night,  came  to  see  me,  and  iLformed  me  that  I 


S2 

■would  receive  my  orders  on  that  day  directly  from  him,  that  the  attack 
was  to  commence  on  our  extreme  right  at  daylight,  was  to  he  followed 
on  the  left,  and  gradually  or  rather  successively  to  extend  to  the  cen- 
tre, and  that  I  should  mo.-c  after  the  division  o\\  my  riglit  or  the  on* 
on  my  left  hud  moved,  according  to  circumstances.  Apprising  him 
of  the  fact  that  there  were  no  trcops  to  the  right,  at  least  within  a 
half  mile,  he  ilirected  me  to  move  something  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  in  that  diiection.  This  was  done,  Urown's  hrigade  forming  oa 
the  front  line  on  the  crest  of  a  slight  ridge,  and  constructing  a  breast- 
work of  logs  ;  Clayton's  a  few  hundred  yards  in  rear,  on  a  parallel 
ridge,  and  liate  with  his  left  resting  on  Brown's  right,  his  lino  ex- 
tending obliquely  to  the  right  and  rear  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
turning  our  position,  it  having  been  ascertained  that  the  right  wing 
was  a  very  considerable  distance  to  our  rear.  My  division  was  the 
right  of  the  left  wing  commanded  by  Lieutenant  General  Longstroet, 
and  McNair's  brigade  was  on  the  left  of  Brown's.  Subsequently 
Wood's  brigr.de,  of  Cleburne's  division,  was  formed  on  the  right,  and 
in  pi  elongation  of  Brown's,  and  about  nine,  A  M.,  Deshler's  was 
formed  on  the  right  of  Bate's. 

In  the  meantime,  a  heuvy  Cre  was  opened  upon  us  from  the  enemy 'e 
batteries  in  our  immediate  front,  and  but  a  few  hundred  yarils  distant, 
bv  which  some  losses  were  C'ccasioned.  At  length,  about  eleven,  A. 
M.,  Major  Lee,  of  General  Bragg's  staff,  came  to  me  with  an  order  to 
advance  at  once  and  attack  the  enemy.  I  informed  him  what  order: 
had  previously  been  received,  and  that  no  attack  had  been  made  c: 
my  right.  He  replied  that  General  Brngg  had  directed  him  to  par, 
along  the  lines  and  give  the  order  to  every  divi-ion  commander  to  uion  i 
upon  the  enemy  immediately.  Accordingly  I  arranged  with  Genem. 
Wood  that  he  should  advance  with  Brown,  wliich  was  done  without 
delay.  Clayton  was  moved  up  Vnmediately  to  Brown's  position,  and 
Bate's  right  thrown  forward  to  bring  him  ot\  line  with  Clayton,  when 
they  also  advanced  to  be  within  supporting  distance  of  Brown  and 
Wood.  For  several  hundred  yards  both  lines  pressed  on  utider  the 
most  terrible  fire  it  has  ever  been  my  fortune  to  witness.  The  enemy 
retired,  and  our  men,  though  mowed  down  at  every  step,  rushed  on  at 
double-quick  until  at  length  the  brigade  on  the  right  of  Brown  broke 
in  fonfu.-'ion,  exposing  him  to  an  enfilade  fire.  He  continued  on, 
however,  some  llfty  to  seventy-five  yards  farther,  w  lien  his  two  rigiit 
regiments  gave  way  in  disorder  and  retired  to  their  original  position. 
His  centre  and  left,  however,  followed  by  the  gallant  Clayton  and  in- 
domitable Bates,  pressed  on,  passing  the  corn-field  in  frotit  of  the  burnt 
house,  and  to  a  distance  of  two  to  three  hundred  yards  beyond  tho 
Chattanooga  road,  driving  the  enemy  within  his  line  of  entrenchments 
and  passing  a  battery  of  four  guns,  which  were  afterwards  taken  pos- 
session of  by  a  regiment  from  another  division.  Here  new  batterioj 
being  opened  by  the  enemy  on  our  front  and  flank,  heavily  supported 
hy  infantry,  it  became  necessary  to  retire,  tho  command  reforming  on 
the  ground  occupied  before  the  advance. 

During  this  charge,  which  was  truly  heroic,  our  loss  was  severe. 
Several  valuable  oflicers  were  killed  ai.d  WvUnded.  Generals  Brown  and 


'y^^/'A  M,,, . 


.    33 

Clayton  were  each  strnok  by  spent  grape,  temporarily  disabling  tli9 
former,  and  General  I5;»te  and  several  of  his  staft'  had  their  hortefl 
killed,  the  second  lost  by<ien<»r-il  Bate  that  morning.  After  remain- 
ing long  enough  to  reform  the  lines,  to  replenish  nmmiinition  and  ro«t 
the  men,  the  command  again  adviinced  to  the  corn-fii>M  mentioned 
above,  then  moved  by  the  right  flank  until  it  formed  across  a  ridge 
which  extended  obliquely  to  the  front  and  Tight.  The  enemy  wer» 
Btill  in  position  behind  a  br.-astwork  of  logs,  a  few  hundred  yards  in 
front  of  us,  and  iicneral  Bm-kner  cowing  np,  I  understood  it  to  be  hi« 
vtish  that  I  should  not  therf  attempt  to  go  forward,  but  to  await  orders. 
In  the  meantime  a  severe  struggle  was  going  on  to  the  right  and 
left  of  the  field,  in  orie  corner  of  which,  near  the  Ch;ittanoog%  road, 
Stood  Kelly's  house. 

About  five,  P.  M  ,  an  order  reached  mo,  by  an  officer  of  General 
Longstreet's  staff,  to  move  forward  upon  the  enemy.  Brown's  brig- 
ade, now  commanded  hy  Colonel  Cook,  of  the  thirty-second  Tennes- 
eee,  was  directed  to  support  the  artillery  placed  in  position  on  a  bill 
in  the  corn-field  to  our  left,  and  Clayton'ti  and  Bate's  brigades  in  tho 
order  named,  advanced  with  a  cheer  and  at  a  double-quick  upon  the 
enemy's  defences.  The  enemy  gave  way,  utterly  routed,  our  mca 
dashed  over  their  breastworks  pursuing  to  the  edge  of  the  opea 
ground  or  field  around  the  "Kelly  houae,"  where  nc  halted,  capturing 
three  or  four  hundred  prisoners,  among  whom  was  Major  Beattie  of 
the  regular  army.  A  prisoner,  bro'ight  up  before  the  charge  was  made, 
Btated  that  the  position  was  hehl  by  the  division  of  the  Federal  Gen- 
eral Revnolds.  The  Eufala  bittery  was  brought  up  niid  fired  the 
Inst  shots  at  the  retreating  fie,  who,  being  taken  in  funk  by  our  attack, 
fled  from  their  position  in  front  of  the  division  on  our  right. 

During  the  night  and  next  morning  eeveru.]  thousarid  stands  of  small 
..s,  accoutrements,  »tc  ,  an'l  a  large  qu:iniity  of  ammunition  were 
ilectcd  by  my  division,  a   large  portion   of  which  was   removed  by 
our  ordnance  wagons. 

Oar  total  loss  in  the  three  brigades  during  Friday  afternoon,  Satur 
day  and  Sunday,  was  as  follows,  viz  : 


P.Rir.Arr... 

i 

-s 
a 

9 

S 
lb 

1 

)!?2 
»4 
3 
t 
8 
8 

].<W> 
1,852 

108 
?6 
Si 

00 
C6   . 
86 

1 

) 

1 

42*1 
685 

r. 

13 
2 

1 

i 

11 

18 
8 

480 

634 
7 
14 
8 
2 

888 

Bile'» 

48.7 
42.1 

1 

•68 

4,040 

205 

.|,4»<l 

•  29 

1.738 

Amon^  these  were  scTcnd  officer*  of  eminent  worth  and  serricei^ 
3 


34 

irhose  namea  are  mentioned  in  the  reports  of  lirigaJo  commanders. 
I  desire  to  express  my  high  appreciation  of  Brigadier  Generals  Krown, 
Bate  and  Clayton,  and  of  their  respective  ccnimands.  Representing 
the  three  States  of  Alabama,  Georgia  and  Tennessee,  they  vied  with 
each  other  in  deeds  of  high  and  noble  daring.  The  Confederacy  has 
nowhere  braver  defenders  led  by  more  skillful  commanders.  It  is 
due  to  the  several  members  of  my  staff  that  I  should  acknowledge  my 
obligations  for  their  invaluable  services,  and  record  my  estimate  tf 
their  personal  b?aring  and  conduct  in  the  field. 

Major  K.  A.  Hatcher,  A.  A.  General,  than  whom  their  is  not  a 
store  active  or  faithful  tflicer  in  the  service,  displayed  throughout  his  ' 
nnual  intelligf-nce,  promptness  und  cool  courage.  Mujor  John  C. 
Thompson,  A.  I.  General,  and  Lieut.  S.  H.  Cahal,  A.  A.  and  I.  Gen- 
eral, were  conspicuous  for  their  zeal  and  disregard  of  danger.  Major 
J.  W.  Eldridge,  chief  of  artillery,  discharged  hio  duties  with  energy 
8)jd  skill,  bringing  the  artillery  into  play,  on  the  few  occasions  where 
It  was  practicable,  with  juilgment  and  success.  My  two  aids.  Lieu- 
tenants Bromfield  Ridley,  Jr.,  and  R.  Caruihers  Stewart,  though  very 
joung  men,  and  the  latter  under  fire  for  the  first  lime,  behaved  with 
commendable  gallantry. 

On  Saturday,  I  was  also  well  served  by  Mr.  John  E.  Hatcher,  a 
volunteer  aid,  and  private  John  M.  House,  a  clerk  in  the  adjutant 
general's  office.  To  chief  Surgeon  G.  B.  Thornton,  and  the  medical 
ij.spector,  Dr.  G.  W.  Burton,  I  am  indebted  for  the  good  care  of  the 
wounded,  and  the  excellent  hospital  arrangements  provided  under  their 
supervision,  and  for  their  unremitting  attention  to  their  duties.  Un- 
der the  management  of  Captain  J.  W.  Stewart,  ordnance  officer,  sup- 
[.dJes  of  ammunition  were  always  promptly  at  hand  when  needed,  and 
affairs  were  managed  to  my  entire  satisfaction  in  their  respective  de- 
partments, by  Majors  John  A.  Lauderdale,  acting  quartermaster,  and 
i.  D.  Cross,  acting  commissary  of  subsistence,  who  are  among  the 
rcoBt  faithful  and  energetic  officers  of  their  branches  of  service. 

My  thanks  are  due  to  Captain  H.  L.  Foule,  commanding  my  escort, 
and  who  acted  as  my  aid,  and  to  the  officers  and  men  of  bis  admirable 
company  for  their  intelligence,  activity  and  zeal.  I  have  never  re- 
quired a  service  from  the  company,  nor  from  any  member  of  it,  that 
was  not  performed  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  In  conclusion,  I  desire 
to  express  lay  humble  but  most  grateful  acknowledgements  to  Al- 
mighty God  for  the  signal  success  that  crowned  our  arms.  Greatly 
outnumbered  as  we  were  by  a.  tkillful  ami  determined  foe,  our  own 
•trong  arms  and  stout  hearts  could  never  have  secured  to  us  the  vic- 
tory without  the  Divine  favor.  Let  all  the  praise  be  ascribed  to  Hia 
Loly  name. 

Enclosing  with   this  the  reports  of  brigade  and  regimental   com- 
B-.anders,  to  which  I  beg  to  refer  for  details  and  for  the  names  of  those  in 
th?ir  respective  commands  who  entitled  themselves  to  special  mention. 
I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

*  Your  obedient  servant, 

ALEXANDER  1\  STEWART, 

Major  General. 


The  cretiit  of  rescuing  Carne's  battery,  of  Wright's  brigade,  is  due 
to  Brown's  brigade.  The  flag  of  the  fifty-first  Tennessee  regitaent 
was  recaptured  bv  Bate's  brigade. 

ALEX.  P.  STEWART, 

Mnjor  General. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  B.  F.  CIIEATHAM. 


oa,  > 
3.      ) 


IIeadquartkrs  Cheatham's  Division,  Polk's  Corps, 
Army  of  Ttnrtfuce,  Uamp  Preston  Smith,  hffore  Chatiimoo 

October  2nth,  I8C3 
Lientenant  Colonel  George  Wm.  Brent, 

Ass\st<n\l  Adjutant   General  Army  rf  Ttnn(ssce  : 

Cclonkl:  I  bave  the  honor  to  report  the  ncion  of  my  command  lit 
the  ba'.tle  of  Chick»ni:iu^a,  and  in  the  subsequent  afl.iir  resulting  in 
the  occupation  of  MieMioiiary  riilge  : 

The  division  was  compose'!  of  Jacl:son's  brigaile,  Brig.  Gen.  John 
K.Jackson;  Maney's  brigaile.  Brij^adier  General  George  Maney ; 
8mith'8  brigade.  Brigadier  General  Preston  Smith  ;  Wright's  brigade. 
Brigadier  General  M.  J.  Wright;  Strahl'a  brigade,  Brigaiiier  General 
O.  F.  i^trahl ;  Stanford's  battery  of  four  guns,  Captain  T.  J.  Stanford; 
Carnes'  battery  of  fuur  guns.  Captain  W.  W.  Curnes;  Scoggia's  bat- 
tery of  four  guns.  Captain  J.  Scoggins  ;  Scott's  battery  of  four  guns. 
First  Jiieutenant  Juo.  Marsh  commanding,  and  Smith's  b.attery  of  four 
guns.  First  Lieutenant  William  B.  Turner  commanding. 

In  filiedience  to   orders   from    Lieutenant   General   Polk,  I  crossed* 
Chickamauga  creek  at  Hunt's  ford   on  the   19th  September,  at  seven 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  moved   my   command  by   the  tlink  in  a  northern 
direction,  formed  my  line  of  battle,  and  awaited  orders. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  I  received  orders  direct  from  the  General 
commanding  the  army,  through  Lieutenant  Parker,  of  his  staff,  to 
move  to  the  e.xtrenje  right  of  our  line,  to  the  support  of  Major  Gen- 
eral Walker,  whose  division  Lad  been  for  some  time  warmly  engaged 
and  ■who  reported  himself  as  being  heavily  pressed  by  the  superior 
numbers  of  the  eiieuiy,  -.vho,  subsequent  events  disclosed,  had  or  was, 
•t  this  time,  concentristing  the  liulk  of  his  forces  on  our  right  and  iti 
front  of  Mnjijr  General  Walker's  command.  Moving  rapidly  by 
the  rifjht  flank,  I  reached  the  road  ieading  from  Alexander's  bridge, 
and  lit  once  formed  my  command  imraediaieiy  in  rear  of  ^^•ljor  G^in- 
cral  Walkir's  lino  of  halile,  Jackson's  brigade  on  the  right.  Smith's 
in  the  centre,  and  Wright's  brigade  on  the  Kft,  the  whole  liue  sup- 
port'd  liy  Maii'_v  s  and  Str;ihi's  l)rig;i  le^,  v^lilcli  wric  licld  as  reserves. 
About  twelve  o'clock,  M  ,  1  gave  the  onicr  to  advance,  at  the  same  time 
notifying  the  several  biigade  cotMnam'ers  that  there  was  no  support 
on  the  right  or  left  ilink,  and,  ;ifier  proceeding  about  one  hundred  ind 
fifty  yaids,  the  line  encountered  the  enoray  advancing  ra[)idlv  in 
heavy  force  in  pursuit  of  the  retiring  columns  of  AL<jor  Gen.  Wiilker. 
The  left  and  cenire  of  Jackson  at  once,  and  in  a  few  moiLcnts  there- 
after the  entire  line,  becume  engaged,  and  succeeded  in  checking  the 
advance  of  the  enemy,  and  handsomely  drove  him  back,  wish  heavy 
loss,  to  the  distance  of  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  where  he  took 
shelter  behind  his  breastworks,  and,  assisted  by  the  arrival  cf  heavy 
rcinforcemcnta,  checked  tlie  further  advance  of  my  line.  Without 
support  either  on  my  right  or  left,  and  after  a  severe  engagement  of 


MAJ-aE N.GEORGE  H.THOMAS. 


37 

two  hoars,  I  directed  the  tbre<>  biigndcs  to  retire  for  reformation,  and 
ordered  Generals  Manej  and  Strall  to  occupj  snd  hold  the  popition« 
Tacated  by  Jackson  and  Smith  and  make  no  attempt  to  advance. 
IJcuching  the  positions  assigned  them,  Maney's  and  Strahl's  hrif^ades 
■were  attacked  in  front  and  on  both  flanks,  by  the  superior  numbers  of 
the  enemy  and  forced  to  retire  and  take  position  in  roar  of  Jackson'R 
and  Smith's  brigades,  which  were  moved  forward  in  the  position  held 
before  the  advance  and  on  the  right  and  left  of  Turner's  battery. 
The  enemy,  flushed  with  a  supposed  victory,  bol  !ly  advanced  upon 
my  line  and,  coming  within  short  range,  was  checked  and  forced  hack 
in  disorder  by  the  well-directed  dischnrgcs  of  shell  and  canister  from 
the  guns  of  Turner's  battery.  I  made  no  effort  to  advance  my  line 
»ffer  ibis  success,  for  the  reason  that  the  enemy's  dispositions  on  my 
right  and  left  flaik.  and  from  information  derived  from  prisoners  cap- 
tured, satit-6ed  me  that  the  entire  corp.s  of  the  Federal  General  Thomas, 
reinforced  by  the  divisions  of  Vancleveand  Palmer,  were  in  my  front. 
I  deemed  it  prnden,  therefore,  to  simply  hold  my  position,  aud  await 
the  arrival  of  reinforcements.  The  result  of  this  engagement  of 
about  three  hours'  duration,  against  such  heavy  odds,  with  both  flanks 
exposed,  was.  that  my  commnnd  i-uccessfully  checked  the  advance  of 
the  eneuiy,  wiiose  purpose  scPined  to  be  to  sei;:e  the  crossing  of  the 
Chi<k(im<iuga  .it  Alexander's  bri'^tgp  and  Hunt's  ford.  This  result 
was  attcndod  with  a  he  ivy  loss  (f  officers  and  men,  as  is  Attested  by 
the  long  list  of  casualues  heretofore  furuihhed  to  ihc  commanding 
General,  and  by  ajimr-rous  exhibitions  of  good  conduct  on  the  part  of 
iflBccrs  and  men.  p-irticuiar  raeiiiion  of  wihich  is  made  in  the  reports 
of  the  (■evcrdl  br)g-ide  commanders,  which  are  herewith  forwarded.  I 
cannot,  liowevcr,  forbeiir  to  refer  to  the  important  service  rendered  by 
Lieutenant  William  B.  Turner,  commanding  battery.  Posted  on  an 
elevation  commanding  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  he  use<l  his  advan- 
tage with  great  effect,  and  di?pl.iypd  a  degree  of  efficiency  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  guDs  highly  commendable  to  himself,  his  ofSecrs  and  men, 
»i>d  »ccomp!i«hed  a  result,  the  importance  of  which  it  is  difficult  to 
estimate.  Three  pieces  of  Scoggin's  battery  were  at  the  same  time 
engngcd,  and  rendered  excellent  service. 

Jackson's  biigade,  during  this  engagement,  took  from  the  enemy 
three  pieces  of  bis  artillery  and  sent  them  to  the  rear.  Scoggin's 
battery,  of  this  br-gadc,  in  retiring,  under  orders,  ha*!  the  horses  of 
one  piece  and  one  caisson  disabled  and  left  them  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  The  piece  and  caisson  were,  however,  subsequently  rtcsp- 
tored. 

Wright's  brigade,  occupying  ll)e  extreme  left  of  my  line,  after  a 
tharp  conflict  of  Iwo  hours'  diA-ation,  was  found  to  be  exposed  to  a 
severe  fire  on  the  left  flank  and  forced  to  retire.  Games'  battTy,  doing 
doty  with  ihis  brig;»dc,  afler  losing  one  half  of  its  men  and  horses, 
was  itbai.doned  on  the  field,  but  the  enemy  was  unable  to  rew.ove  the 
puns,  and  they  wer^  recaptured,  uninjured,  in  the  advance  of  the 
next  day. 

At  fix  o'clork,  P  M.,  the  division  of  Miijor  General  Cleburne  ar- 
rived on  the  field,  and,  with  my  commaod,  was  ordered  by  Lieatenant 


88 


I 


General  Polk  to  attack  the  encmj  at  once.  Mj  entire  coromand  ad- 
vanced, under  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  for  about  six  hundred  yards, 
the  enemy  yielding  unci  j;ivin;»  way  to  our  approach.  At  this  point, 
orders  were  given  to  make  no  further  iidvance  and  the  firing  abruptly 
ceased,  when  my  lines  were  reformed  and  the  division  bivouacked  in 
hue  of  battle. 

In  this  night  attack,  Jackson's  and  Smith's  brigades  only,  of  my 
command,  encountered  the  enemy.  Three  hundred  of  the  enemy 
were  captured  by  Smith's  brigade  and  sent  to  the  rear,  and  the  colors 
of  the  seventy-seventh  Pennsylvania  regiment  were  captured  by  Col- 
onel now  Brigadier  General  A.  J.  Vaughan,  Jr.  It  was  in  this  uight 
attack  that  Brigadier  General  Preston  Smith,  of  Tennessee,  received 
his  mortal  wound,  from  which  he  died  in  fifty  minutes.  At  the 
the  head  of  his  noble  brigade,  of  which  he  had  been  the  commander, 
as  colonel  and  brigadier  general,  for  two  years  and  a  half,  he  fell  in 
the  performance  of  what  he  himself,  with  his  expiring  breath,  simply 
said  was  his  duty.  Active,  energetic  and  bravo,  with  a  rare  fitness 
to  command,  full  of  honorable  ambition,  in  perfect  harmony  with  tl;- 
most  elevated  patriotism,  the  whole  countr}'  will  moura  his  fall  a:, 
do  honor  to  his  memory.  Two  of  his  staff,  Oap'.ain  John  DontlFoii, 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general,  and  Captain  Thomas  II.  King,  act- 
ing aid-de-camp,  both  officers  of  excellent  merit,  were  killed  within 
a  few  minutes  of  General  Smith. 

During  the  night  of  the  19ih  September,  I  was  notified  by  Lieuten- 
ant General  Polk  that  the  attack  would  be  renewed  at  daylight.  My 
command  was  already  formed  and  in  expectation  of  orders  to  advance 
»t  the  appointed  hour,  but,  for  reasons  thus  unknown  to  me,  no  ad- 
vance was  made  until  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.  When  in  the  act  of  advanc- 
ing ray  line,  I  discovered  that  my  front  was  partially  covered  by  Ma- 
jor General  Stewart's  division,  and,  communicating  the  fact  in  person 
to  the  General  commanding  the  army,  was  by  him  directed  not  to  ad- 
vance, but  to  hold  my  command  as  a  reserve.  No  part  of  my  ccm- 
toand,  except  Jackson's  brigade,  was  engaged  in  the  active  operations 
of  the  2(.ith  September,  until  the  hour  of  six,  P.  M. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  of  the  2nth  September,  Brigadier 
■General  Jackson  received  orders  from  the  General  commanding  the 
army  to  go  to  the  support  of  Lieutenant  General  IIilI.  For  an  ac- 
count of  the  action  of  this  brigade,  whilst  detached  from  my  command, 
your  attention  is  directed  to  the  report  of  Brigadier  General  Jackson. 

At  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  received  orders  to  proceed  with  my  com- 
mand to  the  extreme  right  of  our  line,  where  1  remained  until  six, 
P.  M.,  when  a  ge.neral  advance  of  tlfe  whole  line  was  ordered.  Jack- 
eon's  brigade,  on  the  left  of  Generals  Walker,  was  -now  actively  en- 
gaged, and  his  ammunition  being  nearly  exhausted.  General  Maney, 
with  his  brigade,  was  ordered  to  relieve  him.  Wright's  brigade  was 
-ordered  to  form  on  Maney's  right,  and  to  advance  with  the  entire  line, 
now  in  motion.  These  brigades  encountered  but  slight  resistance. 
The  enemy,  now  fiercely  assailed  at  all  points,  yielded  the  field  to  ut 
&nd  fied  in  disorder. 

At  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  the  2 let,  I  moved  my  command  in  the 


39 

direction  of  Chickamanga  station,  ani  bivouacked  for  the  night  near 
the  old  Mission  house,  on  Chicksm.iuga  creek. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  following  day,  I  was  directed  by  Lieu- 
tenant General  Polk  to  move  in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga,  and 
arrived  at  the  foot  of  Missionary  lidgc  at  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.  I  soon 
ascertained  that  the  enemy  occupied  the  crest  of  the  ridge  in  force. 
After  making  the  necessary  reconnoissances,  Maney's  brigade  on  the 
right,  and  Smith's  on  the  left,  the  latter  was  now  commanded  by  Col- 
onel A.  J.  Vaughan,  were  deployed  and  ordered  to  carry  the  position 
held  by  the  enemy,  which  was  done,  after  a  spirited  engagement  of  a 
few  minutes — the  position  found  to  be  one  of  much  natural  strength, 
increased  by  breastworks  made  of  stone  and  fallen  timber  ,  but  the 
enemy,  now  demoralized  by  a  succession  of  disasters,  made  bat  a  fee- 
ble resistance,  and  lied  in  great  haste. 

In  concluding  this  report,  I  beg  to  mention  an  act  of  daring  and 
heroism  on  the  part  of  Colonel  S.  S.  Stanton,  of  the  twenty-eigh:h 
Tennessee  volunteers.  During  the  engagement  of  the  1 9th,  his  regi- 
ment, exposed  to  a  close  and  heavy  fire,  wavered  for  a  moment,  and 
Beemcd  to  be  in  the  act  of  fallinj  back,  when  the  intrepid  Colonel 
Bcized  the  colors  of  his  regiment  and,  rushing  to  the  front,  called  his 
men  to  fuUow  him.  Inspired  by  his  heroic  example,  the  regiment  re- 
formc'l  on  the  colors  and  at  once  recovered  the  ground  they  ha'l  lost. 
Whilst  the  colors  were  in  the  hands  of  Col.  Stanton,  they  were  pierced 
thirty  times  by  the  enemy's  balls. 

The  officers  of  my  staff,  Major  James  D.  Porter,  Jr.,  assistant  ad- 
jutant general;  Major  John  Ingraic,  assistant  adjutant  general ;  Ma- 
jor Melanchcn  Smith,  chief  of  artillery  ;  Major  Joseph  Vaulx,  Jr., 
assistant  adjutant  general ;  Captain  Thomas  F.  Henry,  assistant  in- 
spector general ;  Ur.  F.  Rice,  chief  surgeon  ;  Lieutenant  F.  II.  Mc- 
Nairy,  aid-ile-camp  ;  Lieutenant  J.  Webb  Smith,  aiJ-de-camp  ;  Ma-, 
jor  S.  II.  Brooks  and  A.  L.  Ilobertson,  volunt-jer  aids-de-camp  ;  Maj, 
John  A.  Cheatham,  chief  of  ordnance  ;  Maj  G.  V.  Young,  chief  quar- 
termaster ;  Major  B.  J.  Butler,  chief  commissary,  all  .leserve  honor- 
able mention  for  the  proper  perfirmance  of  the  duties  assigned  them. 

My  escort,  company  G,  seco^  Georgia  cavalry.  Captain  T.  M. 
Merritt,  were,  under  my  orders,  employed  in  collecting  the  small 
arms  abandened  by  the  enemy,  an<l  deserve  honorable  mention  for  the 
industrious  performance  of  their  duty. 

Ilespectfully,  Colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

B.  F.  CUEATHAM, 
Major  Gtntral  Commanding. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOK  GENRUAL  JOHN  C.  BRECKINRIDGE 

Headquarters  BRtc:i;."«sini;i.'s   Divi^iox,  Hii.i.'s  Corps,  ) 

October,  1363.      ) 

Lienteoaat  Colonel  Akcjik.k  A>:>j.njoN, 

Asrt.-tani  Adjutant  Goieral : 

CoLONFt :  I  have  the  hooor  to  report  the  opevntions  of  my  division 
itJ  the  battle  of  Cbickatnauga,  on  the  1 9th  and  2iUh  of  Scpte:nber 
laet : 

■  It  ■^as  coinpofed  of  the  second,  fourth,  sixth  and  ninth  Kentucky, 
»nd  fortv-fir^t  Alabama  refiimetitfl.  with  Cobb's  battery,  under  thd 
eommend  of  liiiqadier  General  B  II.  Helm;  the  tl.irteeiith,  twen- 
tieth, sixtoenib,  twenty-fifth  .snd  nirieteenth  Lonisiima,  tbirty-Ferond 
Alabama  and  Austin's  battalion  of  sharpshooters,  vith  t^locomb's  bat- 
tery, (fifth  Washington  artillery.)  under  the  command  of  Rrigadiet 
Gener.il  Daniel  Aditins  ;  the  fir.-t,  third  and  fourth  Floriila,  fortyi 
eerenth  Geov;;i.i  arid  si.\tioth  North  Carolina  re^'iments,  with  Mabane'4 
batvery,  under  the  coinmnnd  of  j-irigadier  (.Jcneral  M.  A.  Stovall'. 
My  effective  stre7:gth  wa?.  of  enlisted  men,  three  thousand  three 
tundred  and  ninety-five.  Total,  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
siz'y-niiie. 

At  dRvlight  of  the  18th  ray  command  njovcd  from  Cntlelt'a  gap 
iJnd  tbut  neighborhood,  in  the  PigC'.'in  mountain,  and  the  same  nfier- 
jiDor.  tock  position  on  the  east  barik  of  the  Chii:i-;ainauga,  near  Class' 
cjills,  and  composed  the  extreme  lift  of  the  infantry  of  tlie  aviny,  I 
immediately  threw  the  second  Ker.tucky  acrifis  the  ford  to  skirmish 
»ith  the  enemy  and  ixveal  his  position,  the  aixth  Ke!\tucky  being 
placed  in  close  supporting  distance  at  the  mill.  Adams'  brigade  was 
flsnt,  by  order  of  Lieutenant  General  Hill,  to  a  ford  a  mile  anda- 
half  above,  where  tbe  enemy,  as  the  ca\alry  reported,  thrc.itened  to 
cross.  It  was  so  late  when  these  dispositions  were  made  that  nothing 
eatisfactory  was  developed  that  nighi: 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  Slocomb,  with  four  gnna,  Cobb,  with 
two,  and  the  remainder  of  Helm's  brigade  were  moved  across  Glass' 
ford  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy,  while  the  two  rifled 
pieces  of  ISlocomb's  battery,  unilcr  Lieutenant  Vaught,  took  position 
on  a  bluff  upon  the  east  side  of  the  stream.  An  artillery  enga,c;e- 
ment  ensued,  much  to  our  advantage,  until  the  enem^,  who  occupied 
the  better  position,  brought  forward  a  number  of  heavy  guns  and 
f-howed  the  greater  weight  of  metal,  ^'bile  the  engagement  was  pro- 
{^ressing,  I  received  an  order  from  Lieutenant  General  Uill  to  with- 
draw my  command,  if  ii  could  be  done  without  too  great  peril,  and 
take  position  ubout  three  miles  south  of  Lee  k  Gordon's  mill,  on  the 
•ryad  leading  from  Chattanooga  to  Lafayette,  and  so  as  to  cover  the 
ftpproach  to  that  road  from  Glass'  mill  and  the  ford  above,  leaving  a 
regiment  and  section  of  artillery  to  ob.iervo  those  crossings. 

The  movement  was  made  in  good  order,  Colonel  Dilworth,  with  the 


41 

Srf-t  !)n'l  tbir(1  (connolidate'l^  Flori'l.i  nnd  a  8<'Ciion  of  Cohb"s  hattcry, 
being  left  in  observation.  Our  ca^u^liies,  whir-h  fell  upon  Slucomb, 
Cobb  nnd  Helm,  were  tnctity-tTiO  killefl  and  wounde'l.  The  logs  of 
'he  enemj  in  liilleJ  alone,  as  ehown  by  an  examination  of  the  frround 
after  the  Suth,  was  nearlj  equal  to  the  sum  of  our  casunltics. 
Aithou>;h  the  eni^roj  was  in  considerable  strength  at  the  fords  above 
referred  to,  the  result  showed  that  it  was  a  coverinij  force  to  columns 
paseinp  down  the  valley  to  unite  with  the  centre  and  left  of  his  army. 
Soon  after  taking  up  the  r;cw  po.sition,  I  va?  ordered  to  relievQ  Brig- 
adier Gi^nernl  F.-itton  Anderson's  division,  which  wic  facing  the  enemy 
opposite  Tice  fi  Gordon's  mill.  The  troops  ir.arelied  riipiiny.  yet  it 
w»!<  late  in  the  afternoon  before  this  movement  was  completed.  The 
division  was  hardly  in  position  when  I  received  an  order  from  the 
OenerMl  commanding  the  army  to  move  to  the  right,  cross  the  Cbiek- 
•ntDB'iga  at  a  poitit  fu"ther  down  ar.d  occupy  a  po!<itioii  to  be  indicated. 
The  division  crossed  at  Alexftnder's  bridge,  and  arrivins;,  b<'lweeii  ten 
•od  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  at  a  field  a1>out  a  mile  and  a  half  in  tear 
of  the  right  of  o;ir  line  of  battle,  bivouacked  there  by  order  of  I  ieu- 
tensiit  •ieoeral  I'olk.  Rctrisining  some  time  at  Lieutenant  Cieneral 
Ptdk's  camp-fire,  I  k-fi  there  two  hon;>  biffore  doylight  (ih'-  2nth)  to 
place  my  conutiand  in  position.  During  the  night  G'-iiersI  I'olk  in- 
formed me  that  J  w:is  to  prolong  the  line  of  battle   up-^n    the   right  of 

M.ijrtr  Gutfra!  Cleburne,     ('.'iidurtnj  hy    M>jor  .  of  liis  stiflT, 

and  Lieiiten»i-t  Reid,  aid-de-catrp  to  Gpn'-ml  Hill,  my  division 
teacheti  f'lebuMie'p  light  a  little  after  linybrcjik.  I'pon  the  te-wiljnst- 
Di  lit  of  hih  H'le.  I  foro.od  en  his  light  r.nd  b<'csine  the  extreme  ligbt 
&f  the  gtneral  line  of  b.ittie.  Ueiu  w>is  on  the  left  of  my  line,  Sto- 
Tsll  in  the  centre.  ar.d  A  lams  on  thi-  right,  the  last  extending  across 
«  country  ror\d  lejtding  fi  irj  Ried't-  bridge  and  i^triking  the  (Jbstta^ 
r .  '•/A  road  at  a  place  cailed  (ilrnn't.  f;irm.  The  country  w;is  wooded, 
i  =mall  openings,  and  the  ground  urkr.oun  to  me.  Cor  •^kinni.'-h- 
1  few  huiidred  yards  in  advance,  confronted  those  of  the  eneioy. 
Our  line  *S8  supjiosed  to  be  parallel  to  tbi  ("Chattanooga  r'lad. 

Pood  after  Pur.rise,  1  received  a  note  from  Lieutenant  General  Polk 

■ling  mo  to  advance,  and   about  the   satne    time    J^^lj  t    Genet al 

urne.  who  ha|  penei;  to  be    with    rac.  recfived    one   of  tho  same 

ifwr       LieatiTi.int  General  Hill  having  arrived,  th'5  notes  acre  placed 

in  hifl  hands.     Py  b;s  order,  the  m<  venieot  was  deJHved  for  the  troopi 

to  gel  their  raiions.  and  on  oth/»r  accounts. 

Pilworth,  who  had  been  relieved  by    a   cavalry    fore    late  the  pre- 
cejJing  evening  and  who  had  marched  sil  night,  now  ariived  and  took 
i  btr  p1»ce  in  litre. 

'       At  half  past  tin".  A    M.,  by  order  of  Lientenarit   General    Hill.  I 

"i  my  di»isiou  forward  in  search  of  the  enemy.      At  the  <ii«;ance 

■  ren  hundred  yards   ve  came  upon  him  in  force,  and  the  battle 

-    ^1  by  Ilelro's   bngide    with    great    fnty.      The    second    and 

tucky,  with  three    comjanies    of    the    forty-first    Alabama, 

..      "d  the   left  of  m   line   of  breastworks    before    reaching    the 

;inoog»  road  and,   though   assailing   ihero    with    grent  courage, 

^  compelled  to  psase.     From  tome  caoae,  the  line  on  mj  left  h>4 


4S 

not  Bflvanced  simultaneously  with  my  division,  and  in  consequence, 
from  the  form  of  the  enemy's  works,  these  brave  troops  were,  in  ail- 
dition  to  the  fire  in  front,  subjected  to  a  severe  enfiinding  fire  from 
the  left.  Twice  they  renewed  the  assault  with  the  utn1o^t  resolution, 
but  were  too  weak  to  storm  the  posilioti.  The  rest  of  Helm's  briga'l' 
in  whose  front  there  were  no  woods,  after  a  short,  but  sharp  euga;:' 
ment,  routed  a  line  of  the  enemy,  pursued  it  across  the  Chattinooi^a 
road,  and  captured  a  section  of  artiilerj  posted  in  the  centre  of  th« 
road.  ■  This  portion  of  the  brigade  was  now  brought  under  a  heavy 
front  and  enfilading  fire,  and,  being  separated  from  its  leftand  without 
support,  1  ordered  Colonel  Joseph  II.  Lewis,  of  the  si-xth  Kentucljy, 
who  succeeded  to  the  command  upon  the  fall  of  General  Ilehn,  to 
withdraw  the  troops  some  two  hundred  yards  to  the  rear,  to  reunite 
the  brigade  and  change  his  front  slightly,  to  meet  the  new  order  of 
things  by  throwing  forward  his  right  and  retiring  his  left.  The  move- 
ment was  made  without  panic  or  confusion. 

Tliis  was  one  of  the  bloodiest  encounters  of  the  day.  Here  Gen. 
Helm,  ever  ready  for  action  and  endeared  to  his  command  by  his 
many  virtues,  received  a  mortal  wound,  while  in  the  heroic  discharge 
of  his  duty.  Colonel  Ilewitt,  of  the  second  Kentucky,  was  killed, 
acting  gallantly,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  Captain  .Maderia,  Cap- 
tain iiogcrs,  and  Captain  Leedman,  of  the  second;  Captain  Daniel,  of 
the  ninth  Kentucky,  and  many  other  officers  and  men,  met  their 
deaths  before  the  enemy's  works  ;  while  Colonel  Nuckols,  of  the  fourth 
Kentucky,  Colonel  Caldwell,  of  the  ninth,  and  many  more  officers 
and  men,  were  wounded. 

In  the  meantime,  .A.dams  and  Stovall  advanced  steadily,  driving 
back  two  lines  of  skirmishers.  Stovall  halted  at  the  Chattanooga 
road.  Adams,  after  dispersing  a  regiment  and  capturing  a  battery, 
crossed  the  road  at  Glenn's  farm,  and  halted  a  short  distance  beyond, 
in  an  open  field.  When  Helm's  brigade  was  checked,  and  I  had  given 
Colonel  Lewis  orders  in  reference  to  his  new  position,  I  rode  to  the 
commands  of  Adams  and  Stovall  on  the  right.  It  was  now  evident 
from  the  comparatively  sliglit  resistance  they  had  encountered,  and 
the  fact  that  they  were  not  threatened  in  front,  that  our  line  had 
extended  beyond  the  enemy's  left.  I  at  once  ordered  these  brigades 
to  cliange  front  perpendicular  to  the  original  line  of  battle,  and  with 
the  left  of  Adams,  and  the  right  of  Stovall  resting  on  the  Chattanooga 
road,  to  advance  upon  the  flank  of  the  enemy.  Slocomb's  battery, 
which  had  previously  done  good  service,  was  posted  on  favorable 
ground  on  the  west  of  the  road  to  support  the  movement.  The  brig- 
ades advanced  in  fine  order  over  a  fiild,  and  entered  -the  woods  be- 
yond. Stovall  soon  encountered  the  extreme  left  of  the  enemy's 
works,  which,  retiring  from  the  general  north  and  south  direction  of 
bis  entrenchments,  extended  westwardly  nearly  to  the  Chattanooga 
road.  After  a  severe  and  well  contested  conflict,  he  was  checked  and 
forced  to  retire.  Adams,  on  the  west  of  the  road,  met  two  lines  of  the 
enemy,  who  had  improved  the  short  time  to  bring  up  reinforcements 
and  reform  nearly  at  a  right  angle  to  the  troops  in  his  main  lino  of 
works. 


43 

The  first  line  was  routed,  but  it  was  found  irapoBsible  to  break  the 
Becond,  aided  a?  it  was  by  artillery,  and  after  a  sanguinary  contest, 
which  reflected  high  honor  on  the  brigade,  it  was  forced  back  in  some 
confusion.  Here  General  Adams,  who  is  as  remarkable  for  his  judg- 
ment on  the  field  as  f<jr  his  courage,  was  severely  wounded  and  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Among  the  casualties,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Turner,  of  the  nineteenth  Louisiana,  was  wounded,  and  the 
gallant  M.ijor  Cutler,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  killed. 

Stovall  had  gained  a  point  beyond  the  nn;^le  of  the  enemy's  main 
line  of  works.  Adams  had  advanceil  still  farther,  being  actuallj^  in 
rear  of  his  entrenchments.  A  good  supporting  line  to  my  division 
at  this  moment  would  probably  have  produced  decisive  results.  As 
it  was,  the  engagement  on  our  right  had  inflicted  on  the  enemy  heavy 
losses,  and  compelled  him  to  weaken  other  parts  of  his  line  to  hold 
his  vital  point.  Adams'  brigade  reformed  behind  Slocorab's  battery, 
which  repulsed  the  enemy  by  a  rapid  and  well-directed  fire,  rendering 
on  tnis  occasion  important  and  distinguished  servicps. 

By  order  of  Lieutenant  General  Hill,  my  division  was  withdrawn 
a  short  distance  to  recruit,  while  the  troops  of  Major  General  Walker 
engaged  the  enemy.  5Iy  new  line  was  about  .<ix  hundred  yards  in 
advance  of  the  position  on  which  I  first  fornied  in  the  morning,  with 
a  slight  change  of  direction,  which  brought  my  right  relatively  nearer 
to  the  Chattanooga  road. 

Soon  after  taking  this  position,  an  attack  was  reported  on  our  right 
flank.  It  proved  to  be  Granger's  corps  coming  up  from  Rossville, 
and  threatening  our  right  with  a  part  of  his  force.  At  the  request 
of  Brigadier  General  Forrest,  I  sent  him  a  section  of  Cohb's  battery, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Gracey,  who  assisted  hatidsomely 
in  repelling  the  enemy. 

At  the  request  of  the  brigade  commanders,  the  artillery  of  the  di  vis- 
had  been  ordered  to  report  to  the  brigades  with  which  they  were  ac- 
cu«tomed  to  serve.  Cobb's  battery,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
could  not  participate  to  its  accustomed  extent,  yet,  as  opportunity  af- 
forded, it  displayed  its  accustomed  gallantry.  The  excellent  battery 
of  Captain  Mabane,  for  the  same  reason,  was  able  to  take  little  part  in 
the  action. 

The  afternoon  was  waning  and  the  enemy  still  obstinately  con- 
fronted us  in  his  entrenchments.  1  received  permission  from  Lieu- 
tenant General  Hill  to  make  another  charge.  A  line  of  troops  on 
my  right,  and  covering  a  part  of  my  front,  advanced  at  the  same 
time.  A  portion  of  these  troops  obliqued  to  the  right,  and  my  line 
passed  through  the  rest,  who  seemed  to  be  out  of  ammunition,  so  that 
after  moving  a  few  banilred  yards  the  enemy  alone  was  in  ray  front. 
The  division  was  advanced  with  intrepidity,  under  a  severe  fire,  and 
dashed  over  the  left  of  the  entrenchments.  In  passing  tbom,  1  saw 
on  my  left  the  ripht  of  Major  General  Cbburne,  whose  brave  di- 
vision stormed  the  centre.  Several  hundred  of  the  enemy  ran  through 
oar  lines  to  the  rear  ,  the  rest  were  pursued  several  hundred  yard*, 
and  beyond  the  Chattanooga  road.  Uf  these  some  were  killei  and  a 
good  many  taken  prisoners,  bat  most  of  thorn  escaped  in  the  darkneu. 


44 

It  was  now  night;  pursuit  was  stopped  by  order  of  General  Hill,  and, 
throwing  ont  pickets,  I  bivouacked  in  line,  near  the  road. 

The  prisoners  taken  by  my  command  during  the  day,  of  whom 
thore  w.iH  a  considerable  number,  were  allowed  to  go  to  the  rear,  pince 
dotnils  could  not  bo  spared  for  tbcm,  and  it  whs  known  ibcy  would  be 
gathered  up  there. 

The  division  captured  nine  pieces  of  artillery.  I  ara  aware  that 
it  is  usually  the  whole  army,  not  a  part  of  it,  that  takes  guns  from 
the  enemy,  and  that  often  tlie  troops  who  obtain  possession  of  ibem 
ow<?  their  good  fortune  quite  a?  much  to  fire  from  the  riglit  and  left 
as  to  their  own  efforts  ;  yet  I  think  it  due  to  my  comm;ind  to  siy  that, 
in  iegard  to  at  least  six  of  these  guns,  such  considerations  do  not 
apply,  and  that  they  were  taken  without  assistance  from  any  other 
troops. 

My  total  casualties,  as  shown  by  official  reports,  amounted  to 
twelve  huiidred  and  forty,  of  which  .number  one  hundred  and  s-ixty- 
six  wore  killed,  nine  hundred  and  nine  wounded,  and  one  bun- 
Uu'd  and  sixty-five  missing. 

To  Brigadier  General  Stovall,  to  Colonel  Lewis,  whn  succt^eded  to 
the  command  of  Helm's  brigade,  and  to  Colonel  R.  L.  (iibson,  who 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  Adams'  brignde,  the  country  is  indubtad 
for  the  courage  and  skill  with  which  they  dieehitrgcd  thoir  urdnoufl 
duties. 

The  (iflicers  and  men  of  the  division,  wi:h  exi-rptions  so  rare  as  to 
place  in  striking  contrast  to  them  the  gctieral  good  conduct,  sustained 
thrir  former  r(-put.»tion.  and  were  alike  worthy  of  each  othtT. 

To  the  genikmi  n  of  my  staft",  1  feel  sincere  gmtiiudi;  for  the 
prompt,  fearlefs,  an<I  cheeiful  manner  in  which  they  dLjciiarged  their 
duties.  Major  Wilson,  assistant  adjutant  general  ;  Colonel  Vivtt 
'/.inken,  A.  A.  G.,  who  bad  two  horses  shot  under  him;  Captain 
Martin,  A  I.  (i.,who  received  a  contusion  from  a  grape  shot;  Lieu-' 
tenant  Breckinridge,  aid-dc-camp,  whose  horse  was  shot;  Captain 
8(}mple,  or<inance  olFiccr  ;  Lieutenant  Bortus,  (twentieth  LouisiaDa.y 
A.  A.  1.  (',  ;  Dr.  Heu.stis,  chief  surgeon:  Dr.  Kratz,  on  duly  in 
the  field,  and  Messrs.  McGehee,  Coleman,  Mitchell,  and  Ciay,  volun- 
teers on  my  staff,  performed  their  duties  in  a  manner  to  command 
my  confidence  and  regard. 

One  member  of  my  stuff  I  cannot  thank.  Major  R.  E.  Graves, 
chief  of  artillery,  receiveil  a  mortal  wound  in  the  action  of  Sunday, 
the  2(ith.  Although  a  very  young  man,  he  had  won  eminence  in 
arms,  and  be  gave  promise  of  the  highest  distinotioa,  A  truer  friend, 
a  pnrer  patriot,  a  better  soldier  never  lived. 

I  am.  Colonel,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
JOHN  C.  BRKCKlNRiDGE, 

Mi'jor  Gtnerul  A.  0.  8. 


RErORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  V.  R.  CLEBURNE. 

IIeadquarteks  Clkburne's  Division,  IIiij.'r  Corps,      j 

Missinnnry  P.idac,  near   CfiA{tan'H>gti,  \ 

October  IS,  lbC3.       S 

To  Lieutenant  Colonel  Anrm;R   ANnEnsov, 

Assistant  Adjutant  Gi'.xcral  IlUCs  Corps  : 

Colonel:  1  have  tlie  honor  to  report  the  operations  of  my  divis- 
ion in  the  battle  of  Chickareauga,  fought  on  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
the  I9th  and  2nih  of  September,  1863  : 

During  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  the  lOih  ultimo,  I  moved  my 
division  in  a  westerh-  direction  8cro?s  the  Chickamauga  river,  at  Led- 
ford's  ford,  and  having  received  orders  to  report  to  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Polk,  commanding  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  I  did  so,  and  was 
directed  by  him  to  form  a  second  line  in  rear  of  the  right  of  the  lino 
already  in  position.  Accordingly,  soon  after  suirset,  my  division  w.ig 
formed,  partially  en  cchdon,  about  three  hundred  jards  in  rear  of  the 
right  line.  My  right  rested  in  front  of  a  steam  saw  mill,  known  as 
Jay's  mill,  situated  on  a  small  stream  running  between  the  Chickii- 
mauga  and  the  road  leading  from  Chattanooga  to  Lafayette.  My  line 
extended  from  the  saw  mill  almost  due  south  for  nearly  a  mile,  front- 
ing to  the  west.  Polk's  brigade,  with  Calvert's  battery,  couiinanded 
by  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Key,  composed  my  right  wing;  Wood's 
brigade,  with  Sample's  battery,  my  centre  and  Dcshlcr's  brigade, 
with  Douglass"  battery,  ray  lei^t  Jring.  I  now  received  orders  from 
Lieutenant  General  Ilill  to  advance,  passing  over  the  line  which  had 
been  repulsed,  and  drive  back  the  enemy's  left  wing.  In  my  front  wore' 
open  woods,  with  the  exception  of  a  clearing  (fenced  in)  in  front  of 
my  centre,  the  ground  sloping  upwards  as  we  advanced.  Orderin? 
the  brigades  to  direct  themselves  by  Wood's  (the  centre)  brigade,  and 
preserve  brigade  distance,  I  moved  forward,  passing  over  the  first 
line,  and  was  in  a  few  moments  heavily  engaged  along  my  right  and 
centre.  The  enemy,  posted  behind  hastily  constructed  breastworks. 
opened  a  hiavy  fire  of  both  t-ranll  arms  and  artillery.  For  half  :in 
hour  the  firing  w.is  the  heaviest  I  had  ever  heard  ;  it  was  dark,  how- 
ever,  and  acciiriite  shooting  was  impossible.  Each  party  was  itiming 
at  the  flaahes  of  the  other's  guns,  and  few  of  the  shot  from  e  ther  side 
took  efTect.  Major  llotcbkiss,  my  chief  of  artillery,  placed  Polk's  and 
Wood's  artillery  in  position  in  the  cleared  field  in  front  of  my  centre. 
Availing  themselves  of  the  noise  and  the  darkness.  Captain  Scrapie 
and  Lieutenant  Key  ran  th^ir  batteries  forward  within  sixty  yaids  of 
the  enemy's  line  and  opened  a  rapid  fire  Polk  pressed  forward  at 
thtf  same  moment  on  the  right,  when  the  enemy  ceased  firing  and 
quickly  disappeared  from  my  front.  There  was  some  confusion  at  the 
time,  necessarily  inseparable,  however,  from  a  night  attark.  This 
and  the  difficulty  of  moving  my  artillery  through  the  woods  io  tha 
dark,  rendered  a  further  adraDcAnexpodicDt  for  the  c^ght.     I  con- 


46 

soquentlj  halted  and,  after  readjusting  ray  lines,  threw  out  skirmish- 
ers a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  advance,  and  bivouacked.  In  this  conflict, 
the  enwiiy  was  driven  back  about  a  mile  and  a  hnlf.  He  left  in  my 
hands  two  or  three  pieces  of  artillery,  several  caissons,  two  or  three 
hundred  prisoners,  and  the  colors  of  the  seventy-seventh  Indiana  and 
those  of  the  seveuty-ninth  Pennsylvania. 

At  about  ten  o'clock,  next  morning,  I  received  orders  from  Lieu- 
tenant General  Hill  to  advance  and  dress  on  the  line  of  Gen.  Breck- 
inridge, who  had  been  placed  on  my  right.  Accordingly,  directing 
e:ich  brigade  to  dress  upon  the  right  and  preserve  its  distance,  I  moved 
forward.  Breckinridge  was  already  in  motion.  The  eflbrt  to  over- 
take and  dress  upon  him  caused  hurry  and  some  contusion  in  my  lino, 
which  was  necessarily  a  long  one.  Before  the  effects  of  this  could  be 
rectifled,  Folk's  brigade,  and  the  right  of  Wood's  encountered  the 
heaviest  artillery  fire  I  have  ever  experienced.  I  was  now  within 
short  canister  range  of  a  line  of  log  breastworks,  and  a  hurricane  of 
shot  and  shell  swept  the  woods  from  the  unseen  enemy  in  my  front. 
This  deadly  fire  was  direct,  and  came  from  that  part  of  the  enemy's 
breastworks  opposite  to  my  right  and  right  centre.  The  rest  of  my 
line,  stretching  off  to  the  left,  received  an  oblique  fire  from  the  line 
of  breastworks  which,  at  a  point  opposite  my  centre,  formed  a  retiring 
angle,  running  off  towards  the  Chatianooga  and  Lafayette  road  behind. 
The  accompanying  map,  showing  the  shape  of  the  enemy's  line  of 
works  opposite  my  Hue,  will  explain  our  relative  positions.  Upon  re- 
ference to  it,  it  will  be  seen  that  opposite  to  my  right  and  right  centre 
the  enemy's  works  ran  about  a  half  a  mile  north  and  south,  and  nearly 
parallel  to  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road,  which  was  about  three 
hundred  yards  behind  ;  that  at  a  point  opposite  my  centre  his  works 
formed,  as  before  stated,  a  retiring  angle,  running  in  a  westerly  and 
'somewhat  oblique  direction  to  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road.; 
and  that  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  my  right,  his  works  formed  ano- 
ther retiring  angle,  running  back  also  to  the  road.  My  right  and 
right  centre,  consisting  of  Folk's  brigade  and  Lowry's  regiment  of 
Wood's  brigade,  were  checked  within  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
yards  of  the  advance  part  of  this  portion  of  the  enemy's  works,  and 
the  rest  of  the  line  were  halted  in  compliance  with  the  order  previ- 
ously given,  to  dress  upon  the  right.  Passing  towards  the  left  at 
this  time.  I  found  that  thejine  of  advance  of  my  division  which 
was  the  left  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  converged  with  the  line  of 
advance  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army  ;  the  flunks  of  the  two  wings 
bad  already  come  in  collision,  part  of  Wood's  brigade  had  passed 
over  Bate's  brigailc,  of  Stewart's  division,  which  was  the  right 
of  the  left  wing,  and  J>cshler's  brigade,  which  formed  my  left,  had 
been  thrown  out  entirely,  and  was  in  rear  of  the  left  wing  of  the 
army.  I  ordered  Wood  to  move  forward  the  remainder  of  his  brigade; 
opening  at  the  same  time  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy's  fire  with 
JSemple's  battcrj'.  'J'hat  part  of  Wood's  brigade  to  the  left  of  Lowry's 
regiment,  and  to  the  left  of  the  southern  angle  of  the  breastworks  in 
itt»  advance  at  this  time,  entered  an  old  field,  bordering  the  Chatta- 
uooga  and  Lafayette  road,  and  attRptcd  to  cross  it  in  the  face  of  a 


47 

hcavj  Sre  from  works  in  its  front ;  it  had  almo?t  reached  the  road, 
its  left  being  at  Poe's  house,  (known  as  the  burning  housn,)  when  it 
%48  driven  back  by  a  heavy  oblique  fire  of  small  arms  and  artillery, 
■which  was  opened  upon  both  its  flanks;  the  fire  from  the  right  coming 
from  the  south  face  of  the  breastworks,  which  was  hid  from  view  by 
the  thick  growth  of  scrub  osks  bordering  the  field.  Five  hundred 
men  were  killed  and  wounded  by  this  fire  in  a  few  minutes.  Upon 
this  repulse,  Lowry's  regiment  having  also  in  the  meantime  been 
forced  to  retire,  I  ordered  the  brigaile  still  further  back  to  reform. 
Scrapie's  battery,  which  had  no  position,  1  also  ordered  back.  I  now 
moved  De^blcr's  brigade  by  the  right  flank,  with  the  intention  of  con- 
necting it  with  I'olk's  left,  so  filling  the  gap  lelt  in  my  centre  by  the 
withdrawal  of  Wood.  This  connection,  however,  I  could  not  estab- 
lish, B9  Polk's  left  hnd,  in  its  turn  been  also  driven  back.  P'lnding  it 
a  useless  sacrifice  of  life  for  I'olk  to  retain  his  position,  I  ordered  him 
to  fall  back  with  the  rest  of  his  line,  and  with  his  and  Wood's  brigades 
I  took  up  a  strong  defensive  position,  some  three  or  four  hundred 
yards  in  rear  of  the  point  from  which  they  had  been  repulsed.  Desh- 
ler's  brigade  had  moved  foiward  towards  the  right  of  the  enemy  s  ad- 
vanced works,  but  could  not  go  beyond  the  crest  of  a  low  ridge  from 
which  Lowry  had  been  repulsed,  I  therefore  ordered  him  to  cover 
himself  behind  the  ridge  and  hold  his  position  as  long  as  possibie. 
His  brigade  was  now  en  echelon  about  four  hundred  yards  in  front  of 
the  left  of  the  rest  of  the  division,  which  here  rested  for  some  hours. 
In  effecting  this  last  disposition  of  his  command  General  De«hlcr 
fell,  a  shsll  passing  fair  through  bis  chest.  It  was  the  first  battle  in 
which  this  gentleman  had  the  honor  of  commanding  as  a  general  offi- 
cer, lie  was  a  brave  and  efhcient  one.  lie  brought  always  to  the 
discharge  of  his  duty  a  warm  zeal  and  a  high  conscientiousness. 
The  army  and  the  country  will  long  remember  him. 

At  about  half-past  thrte  o'clock,  P.  M  ,  I  received  orders  from 
Lieutenant  General  Polk  to  move  forward  on  a  line  with  my  left, 
I'eshler  connecting  my  right  with  Jackson's  brigade,  and,  when  1  had 
formed  my  line,  to  remain  and  hold  the  position.  I  accordingly  ad- 
vanced with  my  centre  and  right  wing,  drove  in  the  enemj's  ekirmi^-h- 
ers,  .  and  forced  his  line  behind  the  works  from  which  he  had 
repulsed  us  in  the  morning.  The  left  wing  of  the  army  had  been 
drivirg  the  enemy;  the  right  wing  now  attacked.  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral I'olk  ordering  me  to  advance  my  heavy  batteries  and  open  on  the 
enemy.  Captain  Scmple,  my  acting  chief  of  artillery,  (Major  Ilotch- 
kns,  my  chief  of  artillery,  being  disabled  by  a  wound  received  the 
day  bciore.)  selected  positioni«  in  front  of  the  line,  nnd  placed  his  own 
»nd  Douglass'   batteries    within    two    hundred    y4rds  of  the  enemy's 

.breastworks*,  and  opened  a  rapid  and  most  effective  fire,  silencing  im- 
mediately a  battery  which  had  been  playing  up'in  my  linej.      Aliout 

)tLe  same  time,  Brigadier  General  Polk  chaiged  and  soon  carried  the 

Eortb western  angle  of  the  enemy's  works,  taking,  in  succession,  three 
ines  of  breastworks.      In  these  brilliant  operations  he  wsg  materiallj 
ided  by  Key's  battery,  and   towards  its   close  by  Douglass'    battery, 
i^bich  had  again  been  moved  by  mj*ordera  to  my  extreme  right,  where 


48 

it  was  run  into  position  bj  handl.  A  large  number  of  prisoners  (reg- 
ulars) were  here  captured.  The  enemv  ;iban<lcned  his  works  and  re- 
tired precipitately.  BiigaJier  General  Polk  pursued  to  the  Chatta- 
nooga and  Larijette  road,  whore  be  captured  another  piece  of  artil- 
lerj'.  1  hcre,rcceived  directions  from  Lieut.  Gen.  Hiii  to  halt  my  ccm- 
maud  until  further  orJera.  I  cannot  close  this  report  without  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  distinguished  Eervices  rendered  by  various  officer? 
and  men,  which  would  otherwise  pass  unnoticed.  I  have  already  in- 
cidentally calltd  attention  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  Brigadier  Gen 
ral  Polk,  but  it  is  due  to  him  and  to  the  country,  which  wishes  to  .1: 
predate  its  faithful  servants,  to  eay  that  to  the  intrepidity  and  stem 
determination  of  purpose  of  himself  and  men  I  was  principally  in- 
debted for  the  success  of  the  charge  on  Sunday  e\'ening,  which  drove 
the  enemy  from  his  breastworks  and  gave  us  the  battle.  Colonel 
Mills,  also,  is  entitled  to  be  remembered.  Leiding  his  regiment  4 
through  the  battle  until  the  full  of  his  brigadier,  the  hmented  Desh- 
ler,  he  w.ts  then  called  by  seniority  to  command  the  brigade,  which 
he  did  with  gallantry  and  intelligence. 

To  my  staff,  Major  Calhoun    Benham,  assistant    adjutant  general, 
(who  received  a  contusion  in  the  right  fhoulder  from  a  grape  shot  or  , 
fragment  of  ihell ;)  Captain  Irving  A.  Buck,  assistant  adjutant  gene-  1 
ral,  (whose  horse  was  shot  under  him  ;)   Major  Joseph  K.  Dixon,  as-  ' 
sistant  inspector  general  ;   Captain  B.  F.  Phillips,  assistant  inspector  [ 
general;   Lieutenant  J.  W.   Jetton,  aid-de-camp  and  acting  assistant 
inspector  general ;  ilajor  T   R.  Ilotchkiss,  chief  of  artillery,  who  1 
ceived  a  wound  from  a  minic  ball  in  the  foot  on  Saturday,  which  '1 
prived  me  of  his  valuable  services  afterwards  ;  Capt.  Henry  C.  Scmf' 
who   replaced  Major  Ilotchkics   as  chief  cf  artillery,  when  disable 
Capt.  C.  F.  Vandeford,  chief  of  ordnance  ;  Lieut   L.  IL  Mangura,  a; 
de-camp,  and  Lieut.  S.  P.   Ilanly,  aiddeearap,  (who  received  a  c  ; 
tusion  from  a  grape  Khot.)  I  atn  ind'.-bted  for  the  faithful  and  indefati- 
gable manner  in  ■which  they  performed  their  vitil,  though  perhaps  not 
showy,  duties  throu;.'hout  these  operation-s.     M:ijor  T.  H.  Ilotclikiss, 
chief  of  artillery;   C:  ptain  Semple,  with  his  battery,  and  Lieutenant 
Thomas  J.  Key,  comraamiing   Calvert's   battery,  rendered   invaluable 
service,  and  exhibiii-d  the  highest  gallantry  on  Saturday  night  inj-un- 
ning  their  pieces  up,  as  they  diil,  within  sixty  yards  of  the  enemy.   In 
thiw  they  were  ahly  sustaiiied  by  Lieutenant  ivicliard  Goldthwaite,  of 
Semple's  battery.     Here  Major  llotchkis?  received  his  wound.      Cap- 
tain Semple  albo  displayed  skill  and  judgment  as  acting  chief  of  ar- 
tillery, particularlaily  in  the   scleitioa   cf  a  position  for  bis  own  and 
Douglass'  batteries   on    Sunday  evening,  which  gave   an  oljli(jue  fire 
upon  the  eneuiy  in  his  works,  contributing  to  the  success  of  the  final 
charge  by  Polk's  brigade.     Captain  O.  S.   I'almer,  assistant  adjutant 
geiural  of  Wood's  brigade,  was  conspicuous   for  his  coolness  and  at- 
tention to  duty  on  the  field,  and  has  my  thanks.     I  nm  much  indebted 
also  to  Ur.   A.  Linthicuin,  chief  surgeon  of  ray  division.     The  com- 
pleteness of  his  arrangements,  his  careful  supervision  of  subordinates, 
both  ou  the  field,  andcr  fire,  and  elsewhere,  and  in  thd  ho.spital,  se- 
cured our  gallant  wounded  prompt  attention,  and  all  the  alleviation 


49 

of  pain  attainable  in  the  exigencies  of  battle.  Surgeon  A.  R.  Ers- 
kine  (then  arling,  now  actual  medioal  inspoctnr  of  tny  ilivisiun)  ren- 
dered most  efficient  service.  Ass't  Sargeon,  Alfred  B.  Di;I>oach  par- 
ticulitrly  distinguished  himself  bj  his  unselfish  devotion,  going  re- 
peatedly far  forward  under  fire,  and  among  the  skirmishers,  to  attend 
the  wounded.  James  I'.  Brady  and  Melv  in  Oversttrect,  privates  in  the 
Buckner  Guards,  (my  escort,)  specially  detailed  to  attend  me  through 
the  battle,  went  viih  uae  wherever  my  duty  called  me.  Brady  v-as 
wonn('ed  in  the  hand.  Overstreet  had  his  horse  shot.  To  Captain 
C  F.  Vaiideford,  my  chief  of  ordnance,  ray  thinks  :ire  specially  duf. 
Ills  trains  were  always  hi  the  best  order,  and  in  the  most  accessible 
position,  and  to  his  care  in  this  respect  I  am  in<lebted  for  a  prompt 
supply  of  ammunition  in  every  critical  emergency  which  arose.  I 
carried  into  action  on  Saturday,  the  19th,  five  thousand  one  hundred 
»nd  fifteen  officers  and  men,  four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  bayonets.  On  Sunday,  the  2nth,  I  carried  in  fojir  thousand 
lix  hundred  and  eeventy-one  officers  and  men,  four  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty-jcven  bayonets.  In  the  two  days  my  casualties  were 
two  hundred  and  four  killed,  fifteen  hundred  ;ind  thirty-nine  wounded, 
•is  rai.ssing,  making  in  all  one  thousand  seven  tuudred  and  foity-nine. 
Respectfully, 

P.  R.  CLEBURNE, 
4  Major  General. 


RErORT  OF  MAJOR  GENtRAL  T.  C.  HINDMAN. 

Atiota,  Ga.,  October  25,  ISC3. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  G.  M.  Soi;rfi..  , 

A.  A.  Gftiiral  J.ongstrerCs  Corps  : 

Coi.onkl:  Kicknees  prevented  mo  fi-om  exercising  cotntnand  o« 
Saturday,  September  I'Jtli.  until  about  tbroe,  \'.  M.  My  division  had 
th'n  juBt  crosbed  the  CLirkaniiiuga  at  Hunt's  fi>rd.  and  was  soon  after 
ordered  to  the  tupjiort  of  Major  General  Hood  The  orJer  Kas  exe- 
cuted under  a  hiavy  aitillerj-  fire  frcm  the  enemy,  causing  some  I088. 
My  poi<ition  was  on  Hood's  loft  and  Buckni  r's  right,  near  the  centre 
of  the  left  wing  of  theprtny,  facing  we!<t,  parallel  with  the  Lafayette 
and  Chattaiiooga  road,  s-ix  or  eight  hundred  ^aids  distant.  The  brig- 
adec  of  L'eas  and  Manigault  conetitufed  my  first  line,  and  Andersun'a 
mv  reserve.  Nothing  important  haj^pened  during  'tho  remainder  of 
the  day.  After  dark,  jn  the  readjustment  of  my  line,  a  sharp  skir- 
mish occurred  on  Manigault's  left,  the  enemy  retiring. 

Al'out  eleven,  A.  M.,  on  Sunday,  September  2iith,  under  orders 
from  Lieuteuani  General  Longstreet,  commanding  the  left  wing,  my 
cotr.mand  moved  forward  simultaneously  with  the  troops  on  my  right. 
At  the  distance  of  three  hundred  yards,  skirmishing  co.Tinieneed  and 
immediately  my  whole  line  was  engaged.  Hushing  on  at  the  double- 
quick^  through  a  storm  of  bullets,  shot  and  shell, -Deas'  brave  Ala- 
bamians  and  Manigault's  Alabamians  and  South  Carolijiiana,  equally 
bravo,  drove  the  eiicmy  from  his  breastworks,  then  pushel  his  beyond 
ihe  Lufayotte  road,  and  charged  his  second  line  of  breastworks  thjee 
hundred  j'ards  further  on.  The  troops  on  Manigault's  left  not  advanc- 
i  ng  with  hin>,  he  was  enfiladed  on  that  flank  by  infantry  and  artiikry, 
checked,  an<l  at  length  forced  to  retire.  One  gun  of  his  battery, 
tenjporarily  disabled,  was  left  exposed  to  capture,  when  Cidonel  J.  0. 
Reid's  twenty-eighth  Alabama  gallantly  faced  about  and  brought  it 
off  in  safety. 

I>eas  swept  like  a  whirlwind  over  the  breastworks.  Anderson's 
fearless  Miasissippians  carrying  the  breastworks  in  their  front,  moved 
cp  rapidly  on  his  left,  to  Manigault's  place.  Without  halting.these 
two  brigades  then  drove  the  enemy  across  the  Crawfi^h  Spring  road 
and  up  the  broken  spurs  of  Missionary  ridge,  to  its  first  elevation, 
one  hundred  yards  west.  Hiding  behind  this,  the  enemy  opened  a 
tremendous  fire  of  musketry  and  canifbn  upon  our  line  as  it  advanced, 
and  at  tho  same  time  enfiladed  it  from  an  eminence  in  a  field  on  tho 
right.  But,  without  faltering,  he  was  charged,  driven  from  hia  strong 
position,  and  pursued  upwards  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  when  he 
ceased  resisting  and  dibappeared,  going  north,  completely  routed.'  A 
body  of  Federal  cavalry,  covering  the  retreat  of  the  infantry,  made  a 
demonstration  against  my  right,  but  retired  hastily  when  about  to  bo 
Mtacked,  • 


En^p  jveA  hr  R  TRuiwinircii 


r  IftdV^A-C*  JiAwriN«>'0<vi4*rihjmAraartflfihrThnW5WjHff  m«Mf>viVnL'«v^AuirM<^Hinx^ 


51 

Meantime  Manigault  sent  back  for  uml  received  the  support  of 
Trisg's  brigade,  of  IJuckner's  corp3,  and,  with  it,  compelled  the  r^ipid 
retreat  of  the  force  in  his  front. 

The  fifteenth  Alabama  regiment,  of  (Jcneral  Law's  command,  lyhich 
h»d  lost  its  direction,  (ircd  on  Deas"  right,  but  upon  discovering  tho 
ini(!t!ike,  moved  up  and  fought  gallantly  with  him. 

I  now  seYit  staff  officers  to  the  right  and  left,  and  ascertained  that  m  j 
,  idvancc  was  nearly  a  mile  further  wpst  than  any  other  trT^ops  of  the 
\fh  wing,  none  of  which  had  yet  reached  the  Crawfish  k^pring  r  >  id. 
To  \Yt\  right  and  rear  there  was  hot  firing.  I  determined  to  move 
there,  and  gave  the  necessary  orders  directing  the  command  to  march 
northeast  to  tho  Lafayette  road,  till  the  position  of  our  troops  then 
engaged  ghoujil  be  ascertained.  This  was  to  avoiil  the  possibility  of 
cuLi&ion  with  friendly  forces,  and  to  giin  time  for  reforming  porliona 
of  my  command  disordered  by  their  rapid  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

In  the  splendid  advance  which  I  have  p.ttfmpted  to  describe,  througU 
■»"ds   and  fields    and  over  a  pnrt  of  Mit^sionary  ridge,  against  the 
l>8  of  Sheridan's  and  J.  C.   Davis'  divisior^s,  seventeen   pieces  of 
■ral  artillery  were  captured  by   my   division,  fourteen   of  which 
•  taken  into  possession  and  conveyed  to  the  rear  by  Captain  Waters, 
ig  chief  of  artillery,  and  throe  pieees  by  Major  Iliby.  ehicf  of  ord- 
.ce.     f^ince  the  battle,  I  have  been  informed  that  a  staff  officer  from 
»rmy  headquarters  found  ten  pieces  abandoned  in  a  gorge  in  front  of 
•  lay  position,  west  of  the  Crawfijih  Spring  road.     The  number  of  pris- 
oners exceeded  eleven  huhdred,  including  three  colonels.  The  ground 
was  strewn  with  small  arms,  of  which  fourteen  hundred  were  collected. 
Five  or  six  standards,  five  caissons  and  one  battery  wagon,  one  ambu- 
lance, about  forty  horses  and  mules,  and  nine  ordnance  wagons,  with 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five  thousand  rounds  of  ammunition,  were  also 
^•cured.     'I  he  nuincrous  woun<ied  and  dead  of  the  enemy  fell  into  our 
bands.     Among  the  latter  was  Brigadier  (General  Lytic,  of  the  Fede- 
ral army,  killed  by  Deas'  brigade. 

While  moving  to  the  right  and  rear,  I  was  met  \\ff  a  staff  officer  of 

.-idler  General  Bii<-hrod  Johnston,  and  afterwards  by  that  officer 

elf,  stating  that  he  was  haid  pressed  and  must  have  support  forth- 

or  he  would  be  compelled  to  fall  back.   I  immediately  placed  An- 

in's  brigade  under  his  orders. 

■'••as,  who  was  out  of  ammunition,  obtained  a  partial  supply  from 

i^Jton's  wagrtcs,  and  thtn  marched  west  across  the  Crawfish  Spring 

'  and  formed    line  of  battle,  facing  west,  at   the   top   of  the    first 

•^  boy3nd.     His   skirmithers   became   engaged   immediately   witL 

"  of  a  force  of  the'  enemy  occupying  the  next  ridge.     Manigault, 

jiow  coming  up,  was  directed  to  form  on  Deas'  right.     I  believed  the 

force  io  my  front  to  Hte  the  same  that  I  had  previously  routed,  making 

ita  way  towarl?  Chattanooga  and  designed  cutting  it  off  and  captnrinj^ 

it.     Hut  at  this  juncture,  before  Manigault's  line  had  been  estal'lithcd, 

'•-'"V  firing  hid  commenced  to  my  right  and  rear,  east  of  the  Crawfish 

■us  ro»d.  and  1  received  from  Crf-neral  Johnston   urp'^nt  requests 

luriitcr  f-u-,'.    ri.     I>cas  and  Manigault  at  once  a>ov«d  in  that  di- 


52 


! 


rection  and  formed  on  his  left.     Privioue  to  their  arrival  the  firing  had 
ceased. 

General  Johnston's  line  faced  nearly  north,  about  perpendioulur  to 
the  Lafayette  road  and  to  our  orijiinal  line  of  battle.  It  wiis  the 
side  of  8U  extrcincly  rough  and  stei-p  projection  of  Missionary  riilno, 
near  Dyer's  farm,  and  was  eitpniK'ii  ea8twar<lly  by  the  lines  of  Anlt-r- 
5on  and  Kershaw.  The  height  terminated  in  an  open  field,  n<:ir  i\er- 
•haw's  right.  It  was  elsi'where  densely  wooded.  The  enemy  h>l(l  the 
summit  in  Btrcng  foroe,  hib  artilk-ry  planted  on  sundry  9ud<K-ii  ilcvji- 
tions  risiinp  up  like  redoubt*;  his  irifantry  between  the.^e,  beliiiul  th- 
crest,  and  further  sheltered  by  breastworks  of  trees  and  rockn 

At  three,  P.  M..  a  force  of  the  enemy,  probaldy  that  which  I  h:u' 
recently  confronted  west  of  the  Crawfish  Spring  road,  appeared  on 
my  left,  capturing  several  men  of  my  infirmary  corps  and  others  who 
bad  fallen  out  from  fatigue  or  wound.s.  I  was  apprehensive  of  aa 
fcttack  in  rear,  and  sent  to  General  Lon^^street  and  General  Buckn-r 
for  reinforcements  At  the  same  time,  being  the  ofiBccr  of  higliCMt 
rank  present,  and  deeming  concert  of  action  necessary,  I  assume! 
command  of  General  J-ohnston's  troops,  and  ordered  an  immediate  ai.d 
vigorou'  attack  upon  the  enemy  in  our  front — Ueas  and  Maiiigault, 
with  Johnston's  command,  all  under  direction  of  thatofficer,  to  wheel 
to  the  right  until  faced  east,  and  then  to  advance,  taking  the  eneuij  1 
in  flank  ;  Anderson  to  move  forward  when  the  firing  should  begin.  ^ 
General  Kershaw  agreed  to  conform  to  the  movements  of  the  latter 
]  hoped  to  ensure  the  capture  or  destruction  of  the  enemy  by  driving- 
him  in  confusion  upon  the  right  wing  of  our  army. 

The  movement  began  at  half-past  three.  Skiriliishing  ex- 
tended along  the  whole  line  as  Deas,  at  the  extreme  left,  commence 
swinging.  In  a  few  minutes  a  terrific  contest  en.'^ued,  which  continue 
at  close  (juartcrs,  without  any  intermission,  over  four  hours  Ou- 
troops  attacked  again  and  again,  with  a  courage. worthy  of  their  pM-. 
achievements.  The  enemy  fought  with  determined  obstinaey.  aiii 
repeatedly  repulsed  us,  but  only  to  be  again  assailed.  .  As  shnwing 
the  fierceness  of  the  fight,  the  fact  is  mentioned  that,  on  our  e.xireme 
left,  the  bayonet  was  used,  and  the  men  also  killed  and  wounded  with 
clubbed  inu.ikets.  A  little  after  four  the  enemy  was  reinforced  and 
advanced,  with  loud  thouts,  upon  our  right,  but  .sas  repulsed  by  An- 
derson and  Kershaw.  At  this  time  it  becime  necessary  to  retire 
Garrity's  battery,  of  Anderson's  brigade,  which  had  ■been  doii.g  effec- 
tive service.  It  was  subsequently  held  in  reserve.  Dent's  battery, 
of  Deas'  brigade,  was  engaged  throughout  the  struggle  Noiwith- 
•tanding  the  repulses  of  our  infantry,  the  otficers  and  men  of  this 
battery  stood  to  their  guns  undaunted,  and  continued  firing,  inflicting 
eevere  loss  on  the  enemy,  and  contributing  lai^gely  to  the  success  of 
my  operations. 

At  twenty  minutes  after  four  Brigadier  General  Preston,  of  Buck- 
ner's  corps,  in  answer  to  my  application  for  help,  brought  me  the  timely 
«nd  valuable  reinforcements  of  Kelly's  brigade,  and,  within  an  hour 
afterwards,  the  remaining  brigades  of  his  division.  Grade's  and  Triggs'. 
These  brave  troops,  as  they  arrived,  were  conducted  by  officers  of  my 


•  53 

itaff,  to  the  right  of  my  line,  nml  promptly  advanced,  in  conjunction 
with  the  rest,  upon  the  enemy.  From  this  time  we  gained  ground, 
but,  though  commanding  nine  brigades,  with  Kerahaw's  co-operating, 
»nd  all  in  action,  I  found  the  gain  both  slow  and  costly.  I  have 
aever  known  Federal  troops  to  ftght  so  well.  It  is  just  to  say,  also, 
that  I  never  saw  Confederate  soMicra  fi^ht  better. 

Between  half  past  seven  and  eight,  P.  M.,  the  enemy   was   driven 

from  his  position,  surrendering   to  the' gallant   Preston   six  or  seven 

bundrcd  prisoners,  with  6ve  standards,  and  many  valuable  arms.     One 

■e  of  artillery,  two  or  three  wagons,  and  about  fifty  prisoners,  fell 

'  the  hands  of  Dcas'  brigade.     Thia   was  the'  victorious  ending  of 

^•attle  of  Ci:ickamauga. 

\t  eleven,    P.  M.,   suftoring   much    pain  from   an   injury   received 
V     lit  m'dd.iy,  I  relinquished  to  Brigadier  General  Anderson  the  com- 
1 1  of  my  division. 

i  he  usual  commendatory  expressions  would  almost  seem  to  cheapen 

'crvicos  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  iramodiate  commind  during 

diy.  and  those  who  fought.with  us  in  the  afternoon.     The  relation 

•hat  they  performed  ought  to  immortalize  them.     For  signal  gal- 

'ry  and  efficiency  the  army  and  country  are  indebted  to  Brigadier 

■i'^rals  Prestun  and  Johnston,  and  their  several  brigade  commanders  ; 

10  Brigadii-r  General  Kersh.aw,and  the  three  brigade  commanders 

y  division,"  Anderson,  Deas  and  .Vlanigault.      Without  the  decided 

•ss  whic'i  »hey  won    n  Deer's  Hill.  Chickamauga  would  not  have 

a  victory,  inil(-ps  after  ^^n  ither  day  of  /ighling  and  slaughter. 

'ri  the  same  roil  <if  honor   should    he   inscribed   the   names  of  the 

^iilrous   staff  nflScers.    the  devoted   officers   of  the   regiments  and 

•i.|  anics,  and  the  heroic  rank  and  file.     The  reports  of  my  eubordi- 

••itfs   mention    many  of  earh    grade   pho  distinguished    themselves. 

;  a  few  of  them  fell  gloriously,  and  now  rest  on  the  field  ;    others 

r  honorable  wounds,  and  others  fortunately  remained   unhurt.     I 

'Ctfully  ask  attention  to  the  records  of  their  conspicaous  bravery, 

that  the  appropriate  rewards  of  valor  be  conferred  on  them. 

.  iie  following  staff  officers  were  with  me  on  the  field :  * 

*  donel  C.  W.  Adams,  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  general  and 
.'f  of  staff. 

Major  J.  P.  Wilson,  assistant  adjutant  general. 

'aptain  Walker  Anderson,  acting  assistant  adjutant  general. 

'..eutenant  B.  F.  Williams,  aid-de-camp. 

'  iptain  D.  D.  Waters,  acting  chief  of  artillery. 

iptain  J.  F.  Waltcn,  provost  marshal.  • 

'  nptain  Lenoir,  and    Lieutenants   Gordon  and    Lee,  of  my  cavalry 

rt,  also  acted  on  my  staff  during  the  engngement. 
■  I.e  conduct  of  all  these  officers  was  in  the  highest  degree  soldierly, 

their  services  roost  valuable.     They  have  my  thanks  and  deserve 

•  confidence  of  their  superiors.     Colonel  A^lams  esp<>cially,  by  his 
"'r»ter  experience,  his  cool  courage,  and    his   admirable    promptness 

precision,  has  placed   roe  under   lasting   obligations,  and  amply 
*n  his  fitness  for  higher  rank,  which  1  earnestly  hope  wil!  be  given 


54  • 

Major  E.  B.  D.  Riley,  cliief  of  ordnance,  was  veiy  efficient  in  bi« 
depaitment.  having  Lis  trains  almost  constantly  at  band,  ond  supply- 
jiip  every  call  for  ammunition  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

Major  J.  C.  I'alnir.  C.  S.,  performed  his  duties  in  the  most  satis- 
factory manner,  providing  the  crnjiuand  with  cooked  rations  dtiring 
the  battle,  and  the  movements  preliminary  to  it.  with  ahncst  as  much 
regularity  as  if  prepared  by  the  men  themselves  in  camp.  In  this  he 
was  efliciet.tly  aided  by  Captain  S.  M.  Lanirr,  assistant  quartermas- 
ter, an  officer  always  ready  and  willing,  and  whose  qualifications  and 
services  fairly  entitle  Lira  to  promotion. 

Chief  Surgeon  C.  Terry  was  prompt  and  efficient  to  the  utmost 
extent  of  the  means  at  his  disposal. 

Lieutenant  L.  P.  Dodge,  aid-ilc-carap,  was  disabled  by  be.ing  thrown 
from  his  horse  before  the  battle  commenced,  and  was  not  afterwards 
with  1110. 

The  strength  of  my  division,  on  going  into  action,  was  five  hundred 
and  one  oiTicers,  and  five  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-one 
enlisted  men. 

My  loss  in  officers  was  sixteen  Isilled,  eighty-one  wounded,  and  one 
missing;  in  enlisted  men,  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  killed,  one  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  ninety-nine  wounded,  and  ninety-seven  miss- 
ing. Whole  loss,  two  hundred  and  seventy-two  killed,  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  eighty  wounded,  and  ninety- eight  missing. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant. 

T.  C.  HINDMAN, 

Slt'jor  General. 


UEIO.IT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  WALKER,  COMMANDING 
RESERVE  CORPS. 

IIk^dqu \RTKRS  Division,      ) 
Niar  Chatfannoga,  Tenn  ,  October  13,  186i.  \ 
Lieutenant  Colonel  George  Wm.  Bbent, 

Aftsistant  Ailjidi.nl  General : 

Colonel:  The  reports  of  the  cfimir.^n<liiig  officersi  of  brigades  and 
di»isioii8  having  been  received,  I  hastened  to  forward  tliem  to  head- 
quarters, to;;ether  with  my  report  as  commander  ol  the  reserve  corps  : 

On  the  IH'.h  of  October,  I  was  ordered  hj  the  commanding  General 
to  cross  the  Chickamatig*  at  Alexander's  bridgr;,  if  practicable,  if  not, 
to  crof»s  at  Rvron's  ford,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  below.  Before 
reaching  the  bridge,  I  was  informed  that  I  would  have  to  fight  for  it, 
a«  it  was  h(dd  bj  the  enemy.  General  Liddell,  commanding  division, 
was  orderc<l  to  advance  with  Walthall's  and  Govan's  brigades.  (Colo- 
nel Govnn  commanded  General  Lid  fcirs  brig-ide.)  (Jeneral  Walthall 
advanced  upon  the  bridge||kand  brcame  engaged  wi.tb  the  enemy,  and, 
after  a  short  and  sharp  encounter,  took  the  bridge,  wh'ch  was  torn  up 
by  the  enemy,  making  it  necessary  for  the  command  to  cross  at  By- 
r'Ui's  ford.  Colonel  ijovan's  ekiriuishers  were  also  engaged.  Ector'g 
at,d  Wilson's  brigades  were  held  in  reserve,  and  not  engaged.  By- 
ron's forii  was  crossed  at  night  by  the  troops,  but  the  ordnance 
wagonr^.  in  C''n8e<jnence  of  the  rocky  and  uneven  nature  of  the  ford, 
were  not  crossed  until  yiornicg.  Colonel  Wilson's  brigade  was  left 
to  guard  the  wagons,  and  the  rest  of  the  command  bivouacked  about  ft 
mile  from  the  ford.  1  received  an  order  that  night  to  report  to  Gen- 
eral  Hood's  command. 

Early  in  the  morning.  General  Forrest  aeked  for  a  brig<ide  of  in- 
fantry, and  the  commanding  General  (Genera!  Bragg)  directed  me  to 
order  a  brigade  to  report  to  him.  Hhortly  afterwards, hearing  firing, 
I  remarked  to  the  commanding  General  (Genera!  Bragg)  that  I 
thought  Wilson's  biigade  wns  eng?.ged,  and  that  I  would  hasten  to  it. 
He  directed  me  to  attack  with  all  the  force  I  had.  [General  Liddell 
labors  under  &  misapprehension  in  the  first  part  of  his/epoi^l  when 
be  spciiks  of  my  sending  for  orders  and  making  a  reconnoisssncc.  *  I 
had  been  on  the  field  before  I  saw  General  Liddell,  and  hiid  received 
orders  from  the  commanding  General  (as  I  state  in  my  report)  before 
I  went, on  the  field,  and  was  satisfied  of  the  large  force  of  the  enemy, 
and  Bent  for  reinforcements  before  I  met  him.  When  I  did  meet  hira 
we  had  sr>me  conversation  about  the  forces,  etc..  which  I  do  not  re- 
member. He  is  mistaken  in  regard  to  time  1  On  reaching  the  ground 
I  found  that  Wilson's  and  Ector's  brigade"  (having  also  been  taken  by 
Forrest,  without  any  authority  from  me)  were  heavily  pressed  ana, 
from  the  greatly  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  were  compelled  ti 
fall  back.  I  refer  you  to  Colonel  Wilson's  report  for  the  part  his 
brigade  took  in  the  action.  General  Ector  is  absent,  his  brigade 
baving  been  «rdere<l  to  Misgissippi ;  and  I  hare  no  report  from  him, 


56 

but  his   lirig&<le  acted  with  the  greatest  galltintry.     I  ordered   Lid-j 
delPa  divit>iuD  up  as  soon  »$  I  reached  the  ground,  and  they  came  up] 
as  quiekly  as  pos«ih!e,  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  moved  up  io  gal-j 
lant  style  and  attarked  the  entmy.      I  refer  you  to  General  LiddeH'sj 
report  and  ic  General  W;iUha!l"8»and  Colonel  Govan's  for  partJcuhirs. 
This  division,  too,  after  a  desperate  and  gallant  struggle  had  to  fallJ 
back    .  Discovering,  on  my  arrival  on  the  ground,  that  my  command^ 
had  enco'untered  a  heavy  force.  I  sent  immediately  back   to  the  com- ^ 
mandiiig  General   for   reinforcementa.     About  one    o'ciock   General 
Cheatham  came  up,  and  was  inTbrmcd  by  me  where  his  division  was 
needed.     I  refer  you   to  his  own  report  for  his  part'  iu   the  actioj. 
About    five,    P.    M.,    (I    had   no    watch,    but    this    was     about    the 
time,)  General   Polk  oame  up  and  took  coinmind,  and   tny  command 
acted   under   his   or  dors.     I   am   satisfied   that  there  were  more  than 
Thomas'  corps  f  tig.i:;ed ;   and  all  northern  accounts  stale  that  parts  of 
Crittenden's  and  McOook"s  were  engaged.     The  unequal  tjontest  of 
four  brigades  against  such  overwheluiing  oddi  is  unparalleled  in  tliis 
revolution,  and  the  troops  iieserve  immortal  honor  for  the  part  home 
in  the  action.     Only  soldiers  flighting   for  all  that  is  dear  to  freoraen 
could   attack,  be  driven,  rally  and  attack  ag;:iii  .such    Fuperior  forces. 
Two  lines  of  batilo  of  the  entiicy  were  broT<on   in  the  first  attack  by 
Wilson;   and  when  he  was   coinpv'lled  to  retire  from  the  front  of  the 
breastworks  which  the  en-.-my  had  fallen  behind,  the   fight  was  taken 
up  by  Ijiddell's  di'/ision  and  the  enemy's  line  broken  again,  when  ho 
again  took    refuge  behind  his  hroastv.oiks  and  Liddell  was  compelled 
to  fitil  b:.ck.     The  troops  were  rapidly  formed  again,  and  the  unequal 
Corftf!3i   was  carried  on   from  between   nine  and  ten,  A.  M.,  by  my 
command    until  about  half  past  one,   P.    M.*  when,  as   1  have  said, 
Cheatham's  division  came  up.     In  the  afternoon'  at  about  five  o'clock, 
my  command  was  oidered  by  General  Polk  to  support  Cleburne.    Gen- 
eral P.  will  doubtle:s  report  what  then  happened. 

I  was  directed,  Saturday  night, -by  (Jeiicral  Polk  (_to  v.hom  I  was 
then  ordered  to  report)  to  hold  my  reserve  corps  iu  readiness  to  sup- 
port an  attack  upon  the  enemy,  which  would  take  place  at  daylight, 
and  to  support  Cheathsm's  division.  I  was  on  the  ground  at  day- 
light ready  for  the  attack.  The  attack  was  not  made  at  that  time, 
and  boj^reen  about  niiie  and  ten  I  was  ordered,  instead  of  supporting 
Clkeath.Tin.  to  support  Hill's  corps,  a  part  of  the  right  wing,  (com- 
manded by  Polk,)  to  form  my  reserye  so  as  to  ecfnlitti  Breckinridge,  w  ho 
was  on  the  right  of  Hill's  roips.  Before  I  got  info  my  position,  and 
whilst  marching  by  the  Dank  to  gain  the  ground  to  tho  right^  I  was 
sent  for  by  General  Hill  to  his  support.  General  Polk  was  with  my 
command  when  I  received  the  order.  I  marched  rapidly  forward  in 
line  of  battle,  part  of  the  time  at  double-quick,  ami  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Hill.  Geiieral  Polk  was  with  me.  General  Hill  informed  me,  on 
my  arrival,  that  he  wanted  a  brigade.  I  told  hiui  thero  was  one  imme- 
diately b>  hmd  him.  He  remaiked  he  wanted  Gist's  brigade.  I  in- 
formed him  ihat  it  vsas  to  the  left  and  had  just  come  up,<(General 
Gist  had,  a  few  moments  befoie,  been  put  in  command,  by  me,  of 
General  Ector's  and  Colonel  Wilstjn's  brigades,  and  Colonel  Colquitt 


1 


/C(UiU    *Sr^< 


57 

had  coiniiianii  of  Gist's  brigado.)  He  orderefJ  General  Gist's  brigiviie 
itnmeiiialrly  into-the  fight  in  renr  of  Brotkiiiridge,  a  part  of  whose 
division  had  fallen  back,  and  the  whole  of  which  was  hard  pressed.  I 
refer  you  to  General  Gist's  report  for  the  perfoi-inaiice  of  his  command. 

Gctieriil  Walthall  was  detached  to  the  left  to  the  support" of  Briga- 
dier General  I'olk,  hj  II.ll  or  Polk.  JJv  command  being  thus  dis- 
posed of.  hrigndfs  being  sent  in  to  take  the  places  of  divisions,  my 
giily  occupation  was  to  help  form  the  detaclicd  portion?  of  nij  C'ln- 
inand  as  thej  came  out  from  a  position.  I  felt  certain  they  would 
have  to  leave  when  thev  were  eent  in.  My  division  coraman'ers  re- 
ceived their  orders  direct  from  General  Hill,  and  I  refer  you  to  their 
reports  • 

Breckinridge's  division  having  fallen  back,  and  General  Hill  having 
reported  Cleliurne's  division,  on  Breckinridge's  left,  r  >uted,  my  re- 
serve corps  h:ivirig  fallen  back  iu  detachments",  in  which  they  wore 
sent  i-n,  and  a  calumn  having  been  observed  marching  down  the  Chat- 
fcinooga  road,  on  our  right,  I  was  conipolUd  to  in.sist  on  having  pome- 
thing  to  do  with  my  own  command.  With  our  right  flank  expose<l  to 
their  advancing  column,  the  reported  gap  that  the  withdrawal  of 
Cleburne  had  made,  on  the  left,  I  was  in  favor  of  fo^rniing  the  com- 
mand in  a  strong  position  about  one  hundred  an!  fifty  or  two  hundred 
yards  in  rear  of  us,  until  we  afcettaintd  {''aiiively  the  coiidition  of 
our  fiuks,  and  then  make  the  best  di,-'pot»!iion  of  the  ci mbincd  force 
and  stiike  the  enemy  to  the  best  advautagft.  General  Hill,  diff'  ring 
with  me.  ordered  his  lines  rf  battle,  one  at  jiglit  angle',  'o  the  ()tli:  r. 
(iciMTul  Breckinridge  being  .it  rii^ht  angles  to  mine,  he  facing  ^^outh- 
^Ward  to  oppose  the  forcft  then  coming  from  Chattanooga,  and  I  facing 
westward  toward  the  enemy  wchail  been  fighting.  We  were  in  this  posi- 
tion wljen  one  of  General  Polk's  aids  rode  up  and  told  General  Hill 
that  GenersJ'  Polk  had  directed  him  to  order  General  Hill  pctctnptorily 
to  adv.Tbce  iamediatc'y  on  the  enemy.  General  Gist  was  then  ordered, 
by  me,  to  move  his  division  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  anil  Gen-* 
eral  l.iddcirs  division  was  ordeicd  on  his  light.  Generals  Bieckin- 
fiiige  and  Cheathara  were-  in  rear  and  on  (ieneral  Gist's  left.  1  he 
coinmand  marched  forward.  I  refer  you  to  General  Gist's  and  Gene- 
ral Lifldell's  reports  for  the  result. 

My  command  bivouacked  on  the  battle-field,  and  the  enemy  re- 
treated in  the  direction  of  Chattanoogii. 

I  owe  it  to  myself,  and  to  the  ga.llant  command  under  me,  to  state 
that  when  I  reported  to  General  Hill,  had  ho  permitted  me  to  fight 
my  reserve  corps  according  to  my,own  judgment,  and  had  not  disin- 
tegrated it,  as  he  did,  by  sending  it  in*  detachments,  I  would  have 
formed  my  five  batteries  on  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy  toward 
the  Chattanooga  road,  and  rpcned  fire  upon  the  enemy's  fUnk.  and 
would  h;ive  either  pushed  them  forward,  supported  by  infantry,  or 
bave  marched  past  them  with  my  combined  force,  and  I  feel  satisfied 
that  the  enemy  8  left  would  have  bcei,  carried  much  easier  than  it  was, 
and  many  a  gallant  man  have  been  saved,  and  the  enemy's  retreat  in- 
tercepted. 


58  • 

r  refer  the  commanding  General  to  the  reports  of  the  division  and 
bri;;a(le  commanilerfl  for  ihe  conduct  of  their  officers  on  the  field. 

In  the  three  d;ivs''  fighting  I  had  the  lionor  to  command  the  {rallant 
reserve  corps.  1  witnessed  nothing  but  a  heroism  thsit  was  v,orthj 
of  men  bactiing  for  their  freedom.  To  ilie  division  and  brigade  cora- 
inanders.  General  (.ti^t•,  commanding  division  composed  of  (reneral 
Gist's,  (ieneral  Ector's  and  Colonel  Wilson's  brigndes.  and  CJeneral 
Liddell.  coiumajiding  division  composed  of  (ieneral  Waltliall's  an^ 
Colonel  (tovan's  brigades,  1  have  onl\-  to  say  that  the  brigadier  gene- 
rals fought  with  a  gallantry  that  entitle  them  to  division  commands,  and 
the  colon.-li  comiiianding  brigades  wi-.h  an  ob.?tinacy  and  courage  that 
entitle  tliem  to  the  ra^k  of  brigadier  generals.  The  conduct  of  col- 
onels, commanders  of  batteries,  line  officers  and  privates  is  recoided 
by  their  respective  commanders. 

I  may  be  pcrmitte<i  in  my  own  division,  which  was  commanded  on 
Sunday  by  (ieneral  Gist,  to  state  that  Colonel  Wilson,  who. com- 
m-uided  a  brigade  on  both  Saturday  and  Sandny.  and  acted  with  great 
distinction,  atid  who  is  the  oldest  colonel  irom  (icorgia,  is  entitled, 
from  long  service  with  the  brigade  and  from  gallant  conduct,  to  the 
coiiimand  of  the  ticorgia  brigade  he  now  conimamU  in  the  capacity  of 
brigadier  general  ;  and  that  the  gallant  Stevens,  of  (jist's  brigade, 
(who  was  severely  wounded.)  from  what  I  know  of  his  capacity  as  an 
officer,  fro!!i  his  gallantry  on  the  field,  and  from  his  devotion  to  the 
cause,  would  grace  any  position  that  might  be  conferred. 

To  my  staff,  Captain  J.  B.  dimming,  assistant  a-'jutant  general, 
Captain  S.  JI.  Crump,  assii-tant  inspector  general,  Lieutenants  Lamar 
and  Kenan,  aids-de-camp.  Lieutenant  Magrn(Jer,  ordnance  officer,  who, 
vaa  on  t-lie  6eld  with  me,  and  Captain  M.  H.  Tallbot,  volunteer  aid, 
I  am  indebted  for  distinguished  and  gallant  service  on  the  fi^d,  and 
to  (Ja)itiiin  Troup,  assistant  adju*ant  general,  who  was  dangerously 
wounded  whilst  carrying  an  order  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  From 
■  the  character  of  the  fighting,  on  both  Saturday  and  Suniiay,  they  were 
greatly  exposed,  and  bore  themselves  as  became  gentlemen  and  sol- 
diers fighting  for  all  that  is  dear. 

For  the  gallant  dead   we  can    but   mourn.     The  noble,  br.'vve  and 
'  chivalrous  Cohjtiitt,  who  fell  in  command  of  (Jiit's  brigade,  was  a  sol- 
dier and  a  geniieman,  a  christian  and  a  friend.     I  hope  I  will  be  ex- 
crn-cA  for  paying,  in  ray  report,  a  tribute  to  his  worth. 

A  map  of  the  field  and  a  list  of  casualties  will  accompany  this 
report. 

Gregg's  brigade,  Tvhich  now  forgis  a  part  of  Walker's  division,  re- 
potted during  the  battle  to  Major  General  Hood,  whose  official  report 
will,  doubtless,  give  an  account  of  its  operations.  1  am  proud  to  hear 
it  behaved  with  great  gallantry. 

1  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

W.  H.  T.  WALKER, 
Major  General  commanding  Division. 


REPORT  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  JOSEni  WHEELER. 

IIeadquaptkrs  Cavai.rv  Corps,  ) 
October  3(ltb,  18C3.      \ 
Colonel  Gf.orce  Vi.  Brk.nt. 

jLssiilajit  /idjviniit  Gtr.iral  Army  of  Tmntssee  : 
''oLONF.u:   Ilavinp  been  called  upon  to  report  the  operations  of  my 
iiiand  dnrin^ami  incident  upon  the  battle  of  Chickamaiiga,  I  have 
honor  to  make  the  f 'lowing  statiment  of  facts,  in  order  simply  tode- 
eignatc  the  position  of  the  command.     1  cannot,  in  justice  to  the  offi- 
cers and  men.  make  a  full  official  report,  until  the  reports  of  subordi- 
nate commanders   h.ive  been  received.     I   trust,  however,  this  state- 
ment will  answer  until  a  full  report  can  be  prepared  : 

On  the  27th  August  my  command,  consisting  of  Wharton's  and 
Martin's  division^  and  Roddy's  biigade,  wore  stationed  a8folloT^H: 
Estis'  rcginjent,  of  Wharton's  division,  picketing  Tennessceriver  from 
Bridgeport  to  Guntersville  ;  Wade's  regiment,  Martin's  division,  from 
Guntersville to  D-catur.  and  detachments  from  Koddy's  biigade  from 
Decstnr  to  the  mouth  of  Rear  creek.  The  mnin  body  of  Wharton's  di- 
vision was  stationed  near  Rome,  Ga  ;  of  Martin's  division  near  Alexan- 
diiii,  Alabama,  and  of  Roddy's  brigade  cear  Tuscumbia,  Alabama.  Two 
regiments  of  the  corj)'  were  on  detached  duty  with  General  I'illow. 

On  tiie  27th  General  Martin's  command,  numbering  about  twelve 
hundred  men.  was  ordered  to  Trenton,  and  Geneial  Whaiton's  to 
the  vicinity  of  Chattanooga. 

On  the  29ih,  the  enemy  crossed  the  TennesFee  river  in  force,  driv- 
ing back  the  pickets  of  Colonel  E.*tis'  regiment.  About  five  hun- 
dred men  of  General  Martin's  division  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mai- 
den, moved  op  Wills'  valley  and  were  placed  on  picket  duty  below 
Chattanooga. 

It  now  berame  evident  that  the  enemy  were  moving  two  divisions 
of  tavalry  and  McCot'k's  corps  of  infantry  over  Sand  mountain  and 
into  \S  ills'  valley  by  the  Caperton  road.  I  was  ordered  to' take  post  ■ 
in  Rrocmtown  valley,  for  the  purpose  of  picketing  the  passes  of  Look- 
out mountain.  General  Martin,  with  jibout  twelve  hundred  men, 
guarded  the  passefe  from  the  Tennessee  river  to  Neil's  (>ap,  and  Gen. 
V  barton  from. Neil's  Gap  to  Gadsden.  These  commands  kept  the  en- 
emy continually  observed,  and  full  reportB  concerning  him  were  sev- 
er.il  times  each  day  sent  to  array  headquarters.  Several  columns  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  were  pubhcd  over  the  mountain,  all  of  which 
were  successfully  driven  back. 

On  the  12th  Sefiterobcr,  McCook's  corps  of  infantry  and  Stanley's 
corps  of  cavalry  moved    over  the  mountain  at  Alpine,  and,  after  a  »o- 
Tere  fight,  our  cavalry  (under  Colonel  Arery,  m  most  gallant  and  d>»-. 
ereet  officer)  was  compelled  to  fall  back. 

>*kirmishing  continued  nearly  every  day  until  the  17th,  when  I 
Was  ordered  to  move  into  McLtmore'scove,  by  I)ogand  Catleti"«  gaps, 
ud  attack  the  enemy,  in  order  to  make   a  demonstiation  in  that  di- 


60  ^ 

rcclion.     Wc  fought  for  some  hourf,  driving  the  enemy  for  some  ilia- 
tance,  but  finally  developed  a  force  too  large  to  be  dislodged. 

On  the  following  day  we  moved  to  Owens' ford,  onCi:ickiun;iuga  river, 
leaving  heavy  picket*  at  all  the  gaps  of  the  mountain  as  far  as  Gadsden. 

About  two,  P.  M.,  I  learnpil  the  enemy's  cavalry  were  moving  up 
McLetnnre's  cove.  I.  moved  acroAS  the  river  ao'd  warmly  assailed  their 
flank,  dividing  the  column  and  driving  the  enemy  in  confusion  in  both 
directions.  ,, 

Dur  ng  the  night  I  received  orders  to  guard  well  all  the  passes  of  i| 
the  mountain  an  1  all  the  fords  of  the  river  down  to  Oensral  Long-  " 
street's  left  flank,  an  1  to  attack  the  enemy  at  every  opportunity  wiiioh 
presented  itself  This  order  was  complied  with,  an  I  tho  remaind-rof 
my  force  was  concentrated  at  Glass'  mill.  A  con.si  lera'jle  force  of  the  ^ 
enemy,  with  artillery,  were  deployed  on  the  opposite  biiik,  and  warm  ■ 
pkirmishin;;  comineuced.  As  soon  as  arrangements  ci>uld  be  made.  [  * 
dismounted  all  my  available  force,  crossed  and  warmly  assailed  ihs 
enemy,  hoping  that  we  might  draw  troops  from  t'ao  centre,  *nd 
thus  creatS  a  diversion.  After  a  short  fight,  the  enemy  wavered. 
We  charged  him  and  drove-  a  largdy  superior  force  fully  two 
miles  to  Crawfish  Spring,  killing  and  wounding  large  numbers 
and  taking  thirty-five  officers  .in  1  men  prisoners,  besides  the  wouado.l. 
We  were  successful  in  creating  the  diversion,  as  tho  enemy  thought 
our  advance  a  heavy  flank  raijvement,  and  reinfj.'-ced  this  point  he-i- 
vily.  The  enemy,  in  his  accounts  of  the  battle,  state  that  General 
l/ongstreet  fl. inked  iiim  at  this  point  at  the  hour  we  made, the  attack. 
At  this  time  I  received  orders  to  move  my  available  force  to  Lee  and 
Gordon's  mills,  and  uttack  the  enemy.  We  arrived  at  that  place  ab  tut 
three  o'clock,  1\  M.,  crossed  tho  river,  and  vigorou.sly  assailed  hiin. 
After  a  short  time,  he  commence<i  retreating  in  confusion.  We  fol- 
lowed as  rapidly  as  possible,  capturing  about  one  thousand  prisoners, 
twenty  wagons,  and  a  large  amount  of  aims  and  orduaocc  stores. 
About  dark,  we  also  captured  five  large  liosjdtals,  with  a  considerable 
supply  of  medicines,  camp  equipage,  and  a  great  number  of  wouUiKd 
prisoners,  besides  over  one  hundred  surgeons.  The  pursuit  was  c^->n- 
tinued  till  two  hours  after  nightfall,  when  wo  retired  to  feed  our 
hiorses. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  I  detached  two  regiments,  pur- 
suant to  orders,  to  pick  up  stragglers  and  urms.  About  nine,  A.  M., 
1  received  orders  from"  General  Longstreet  to  send  a  force  of  cavalry 
to  find  the  enemy's  position.  At  the  same  time  I  received  ord'jrs 
from  General  Bragg,  through  Colonel  McKinstry,  to  save  the  cap- 
tured property.  To  accomplish  both  these  objects,  I  detailed  live 
hundred  of  my  best  mounted  men,  under  Colonel  Anderson,  to  com- 
ply with  General  Longstreet's  order,  with  full  instructions  to  report 
every  hour  to  that  officer.  As  previously  stated,  two  regiments  were 
•already  at  work  collecting  stragglers  and  arms,  leaving  with  mo  but 
about  seventeen  hundreil  men.  Just  at  this  time  I  received  informa- 
tion from  my  pickets  at  Owen's  ford  that  the  enemy,  in  large  force, 
was  driving  back  our  cavalry  from  that  point.  It  was  also  reported 
that  the  enemy  had  a  large  train  of  wagons  with  him.      At  the  same 


«1 

time  I  obserTed  s  heavy  dnst  in  Chattanooga  valley,  which  appeared 

•  .  iiidicate  a  movement  from    Chattanooga,  along  the  foot  of  Lookout 

mtain,  tov.ards  McLemore's  cove,  for  the  purpose  of  succoring  the 

.  niand  reported  at  Owen's  ford.     I  imnieiliately  moved  over  to  Chat- 

!-i':(iojTa  vallev  and  drove  back    towards   Chattanooga  the  fcrce  which 

V  T-^  marching  from  that  place.      I  then  left  the  eighth  Texas  rangers 

i  Diy  eHCort  to  hold  the  enemy,  in  check,  while,  with  the  balance  of 

rriDtnand.  I  moved  up  towards  McLemoie's  cove. 

\fter  marching  al  out  five  miles  we   met  a   large   force  of  cavalry, 

\~'     -h,  seeing  the  dust  of  our  approach,  had  deployed   a  considerable 

■   •   e  in  a  strong  position.     1  immediately  defjoyed  two  re;?iments  and 

incnced  t^kirmihhirig.     Finding  their  position  strong,  I  detached  a 

iilron  to  turn  their  right  flank.     This  caused  the  enemy  to  waver, 

n  we  charged  in  line  and  also  in  column  on  the  road,  driving  him 

f'lifusion.       The  enemy  attempted    to  form   a   new    line   with  his 

trvea  several  times,  but  we  met  him  with  such  force  as  to  di.'perse 

i  iMi  each  time,  driving  him  before  us.     We  continued  the  charge  seve- 

iniles,  capturing,  killing,  or  dispersing  nearly  the  entire  command, 

'ill  number  about  two  thousand  men.       We  secured    immediately 

n  the  road  only  about  four  hutidred.     We  also  captured  eighteen 

1  cf  colors,  and  tecured  their  entire  train,  numbering  about  ninety 

•  >n8,  loaded  with  valuable  baggage.     Many  of  the  men  who  escaped 
1^  adjoining  woods  were  picked  up  on  the  following  morning,  and 

about  sevt-nty-five   men.   half  of  whom   were   dismounted,  suc- 
led  in  joining  the  Federal  army.     We  aUo  captured  a  number  of 
3;i..s.     The  wagons  and  mules  were  turned  over  to  the  chief  quarter- 
CDfl'ter  of  army  of  Tennessee. 

<>n  the  following   morning,  pursuant  to  orders,   wc   pressed  on  to 

"'•bin  one  mile  and  a  (|uarter  of  Chattanongs,   driving   the   enemy's 

::]ry  behind  his  infantry.     We  remaitaid  in  this  position  until  night, 

n,  pursuant  to  orders,  J  proceeded  towards  Tren 'on,' preparatory 

foSfing  the  Tennessee  river.       After  one   day's  march,  I  received 

•  IS  to  return  and  sweep  up  Lookout  mouat&iu    to    Point  Lookout. 
■  oHer  was  received  at  two.  1*.  M..  and  I  immediately  started  with 

»n   w'lvance  guard  of  two  hundred  men.  ordering  the  cummand  to  follow. 

'  n  arriving   at  8ummertown  at  dark,  I   found  one  regiment  of  the 

".'•  behind  stronj  barri'^ades.      I  dismounted  my  men  to  feel  their 

1  m  and  charged  their  flanks,  driving  them  for  some  distance.     In 

!i»sty  retreat  they    left  several    guns,   knapsacks,   overcoats   and 

sing  utensils,  also  their  supper  already  cooked.     By   that  time  I 

iicd  that  my  command  had  been  utoppcd   and   ordered   to  Chicka- 

:2a  station.     I,  however,  with  my  small  command,  which  numbered 

hundred  and  five  dismontited  men,  pressed  the  enemy  off  the 

ntain. 

After  surveying  the  enemy's  works,  and  reporting  fully  his  position 

lo   t(.p  commanding    (Jeneral,   I    prf>cecded    to    Chickamauga   station, 

whfte  I  received  orders  to  cross  the 'Tennessee   river   above    CLatta- 

uoo;:.^.       Daring    the    night,    however,   I    received    orders    to   move 

towards  Charleston  to  support  General  Forrest,  who  was  moving  apoo 

the  cnemj  in  that  direction. 


62 

On  the  29th  I  received  orders  to  cross  the  Tenncasep  liver  with 
th'it  portion  of  ray  command  then  with  me  (one  bri(»:ide  having  been 
lel't  with  the  army)  and  three  brigades  which  General  Forest  had  been 
ordered  to  send  me. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3nth,  I  lenrned  that  these  commands  hsd 
just  arrived  at  a  point  about  twenty  miles  from  the  point  of  crossing. 
I  ordered  thetn  to  the  latter  pUce,  nnd  proceeded  there  with  the  com- 
mands of  Generals  Wharton  and  NLirtui.  The  enemy  had  occupied 
the  opposite  bank,  and  immf'diately  concentrated  a  force  nearly,  if 
not  quite,  cijuiil  to  our  own  to  re.»<ist  our  crossing.  This  lorco  had 
followed  me  up  the  river,  and  I  founil  that  any  point  at  which  I  .should 
attempt  to  cross  could  bo  rc»ched  as  easily  by  theni  as  by  my  com- 
mand. Under  these  circumstiinces.  I  determined  to  cross  at  the  point 
I  then  was.  The  three  lirigades  from  General  Forrest  were  more  slcol- 
ctons,  scarcely  avcraf^ing  five  hundred  elFeccive  men  each.  Those 
were  badly  armed,  had  but  a  small  supply  of  ammunition,  and  their 
hors(!8  were  in  horrible  coniiition,  having  been  inarched  continuou^^ly 
for  three  days  and  nights  without  removing  saddles  The  men  were 
worn  out  and  without  rations.  The  brigade  commander.^  made  moat 
urgent  protests  against  their  commands  being  galled  upon  to  move  in 
this  condition.  With  this  state  of  things  I  allowed  the  worst  horse* 
to  be  returned  to  the  rear,  and  with  the  remainder  crossed  in  the  face 
of  an  enemy  nearly  as  large  as  our  own  force.  AVe  assailed  and  drove 
the  enen.y  about  three  miles. 

On  the  morning  of  November  2d  I  reached  Sequatchie  valley,  and  at 
three  o'clock  on  the  fullowing  morning  proceeded  down  towards  Jasper, 
with  about  fifteen  hundred  men.  After  travelling  about  ten  miles  we 
overtook  and  captured  thirty-t\ro  si.K-mule  wagons,  which  were  de- 
ptroyed.     The  mules  wore  carried  on  with  the  command. 

On  approaching  Anderson's  cross  roads  we  were  met  by  a  consid- 
erable force'of  cavalry,  which  we  charged  and  drove  before  us.  We 
here  found  a  large  tr:;in  of  wagons,  which  proved  to  extend  from  the 
fop  of  Waldron's  ridge  for  a  <lifltaiice  of  "ten  miles  toward.^  Jasper. 
This  train  was  heavily  loiuieil  with  ordnance,  quartermaster  and  eoin- 
luissary  stores.  Tho  nundier  of  wagons  was  variously  estimated  at 
from  eight  to  fifteen  hundred.  No  one  saw,  perhaps,  more  than  half 
the  train.  The  (juartermaflter  in  charge  of  the  train,  as  well  as  other 
employees,  stated  that  there  were  eight  hundred  si.\-niule  wagons, 
besides  a  great  number  of  sutler  wagons.  The  train  was  guarded  by 
;i  brigade  of  cavalry  in  front  and  a  brigade  of  cavalry  in  rear,  and  on 
the  flank,  where  we  attacked,  were  Btaiioned  two  regiments  of  in- 
fan'ry.  After  a  warm  fight  the  guards  were  defeated  and  driven  off, 
leaving  the  entire  train  in  our  possession.  After  stdecting  susih 
rnulfs  and  wagons  as  we  needed,  we  then  destroyed  the  train  by- burn- 
ing the  wagons  and  subering  or  shooting  the  mules.  Daring  this 
worv  ray  pickets  were  driven  in  on  both  fianks  and  my  rear.  Fortu- 
iitttcly  the  enemy  was  repulsoir,  ami  wo  roinained  undisturbed  for 
^'igbt  hours,  and  until  our  work  whs  thoroughly  accomplished.  Just 
before  dark,  as  we  were  retiring,  »  large  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry 
•jjovcd  upon  U8  from  Stephenson,  skirmishing  with   our  rear  until 


63 

d»Tk.  During  this  General  Martin,  Colonel  Arerj  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Griffith  were  distinguished  for  pallnntry.  During  the  ni^^ht 
I  moved  over  Cumberlaml  raouiitain,  and  early  next  moruinjr  joined 
General  Wharton  near  the  foot' of  the  mountain,  and  went  forward  to 
attack  McMinnville.  ^  The  enemy  was  pressing  close  hehind,  but  wo 
eucceeded  in  capturing  the  place,  with  an  enormous  supply  of  quarter- 
master and  commisflary  stores,  with  the  fortifications  and  garrison, 
which  numbered  five  hundred  and  eighty-seven  men.  with  arm?,  ac- 
contrera*-nts,  &c.  Two  hundred  horse?  were  also  captured.  The  day 
and  night  were  occupied  in  destroying  the  stores,  a  locomotive,  a 
train  of  cars,  and  a  bridge  over  Hickory  creek — such  of  the  stores  aa 
couM  be  transported  having  been  distributed  to  the  command. 

On  the  following  day  we  marched  to  Miirfrccsboro'.  After  mnking 
»  demonstration  upon  the  place  we  moved  over.  and.  after  a  slmrt 
fight,  captured  a  strong  stockade  guarditig  the  railroad  bridge  over 
Stone  river,  with  its  garrison  of  fifty-two  mm.  The  da.\  wis  occu- 
pied in  cutting  down  the  bridge  and  thoroughly  burning  the  timb"r. 
We  also  burned  the  railroad  ties  and  track  for  three  miles  below  the 
bridge. 

The  following  day  we  destroyed  a  train  and  a  quantity  of  stores  at 
Christiana  and  Fcsterville.  and  destroyed  all  the  railrnad  bridges  and 
tressels  between  Murfreesboro'  and  Wartrace,  including  all  the  large 
bridges  at  and  near  the  latter  place,  capturing  the  guards.  &c.  Wo 
tiso  captured  and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  stores  of  all  kinds  at 
Bhtlbyville — the  enemy  running  from  his  strong. fortifications  upon 
our  approach 

That  night  I  ordered  Davidson's  division  to  encamp  on  Duck  river, 
near  Warner's  bridge  ;  Martin's  division  two  miles  further  down,  and 
Wharton's  two  miles  below  Martin's.  During  the  eveninj^  I  Icartied 
that  the  enemy,  who  had  been  closely  pursuing,  had  encamped  near 
Frazier's  farm.  I  immediately  informed  General  r>avid.''on  of  the 
position  of  the  enemy,  and  directed  him  to  keep  the  enemy  observed, 
and  to  join  me  should  the  enemy  move  toward-)  him.  This  order  w_i8' 
•hortly  after  repeated  with  this  modification,  that  he  should  move  nn- 
mediately  to  my  position  (Crowell's  mill  )  Unfortunately  he  failed  to 
comply  with  this  order,  ar.d  bn  the  following  moining  was  attacked 
by  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  I  received  two  consecutive  de- 
spatches from  General  Davidson  which  indicated  he  was  movrng  down 
Duck  river,  but  on  questioning  his  cpuriers,  I  s'^ccrtained  ili:it  he  *a» 
moving  towards  Farinington.  I  immediately  started  at  a  trot  towards 
Farmington,  with  .Martin's  division,  orderitig  General  Wharton  inid 
the  wagoDf!  to  follow  me.  1  reached  Farmington  just  in  time  to  jlico 
five  regiments  of  Martin's  command  in  position  when  the  enemy  ap- 
peared. I  had  ordered  (General  i>avidsfin  to  form  in  column  by  fnura 
OB  the  pike,  and  to  charge  tiie  enemy  when  tliey  were  repulsed  bjr 
Martin's  division.  (Jeneral  Davidson  having  officially  reported  to  me 
th»t  only  three  regiments  of  the  eneiry  h;i.l  been  pe<-n  during  the  day. 
The  tiie'igenjetii  cmni'^nced  warmly,  l>ut  the  Cicmv  was  soon  re- 
!  r«il8e<l.  General  DaMd^fm  had  failed  to  form  as  stated,  and,  in.'tead, 
\  kad  moved  for  some  distance.     The  enemy  soon  after  came  op  in 


I 


64 

etrong  force,  with  s  division  of  infantry  and  a  division  of  cavalrj. 
AVe  fought  them  with  ^;reat  tvarmth  for  twenty  mitiutes  when  wt 
charged  the  line  anfl  drove  it  back  for  some  distance.  General  Whar- 
toh'a  column  and  our  train  having  now'  passed,  and  the  object  for  which 
we  fought  being  accoo-plished,  wc  withdrew,  without  being  followed  by 
the  entiny. 

The  enemy,  in  his  own  account  of  the  fight,  acknowledged  a  Iocs  of 
twenty-nine  killed,  including  one  coKmel.and  one  hundred  atid  fifty- 
Dine  wounded.     My  entire  loss  was  less  than  one-fourth  of  the  above  . 
figures.    . 

A  roconnoisflance  was  made  toward.s  Columbia,  which  caused  the  ene- 
my to  evacuate  that  [dace  and  destroy  oil  their  stores,  including  thirty 
days'  r:<tions  fur  the  garrison 

We  then  proceeded  to  the  Tennessee  river  at  Muscle  Shoals,  the 
only  fordable  place  on  the  river,  where  we  crossed  without  difficulty, 
the  enemy  reaching  the  river  just  after  I  had  crossed. 

Two  pieces  of  artillery  of  Wiggin's  battery  having  broken  down 
several  times,  were  finally  abandoned  on  account  of  our  utter  inability 
to  bring  them  farther  The  officers  deserve  great  credit  for  carrying 
them  80  far  in  their  disabled  condition.  One  of  the  limbers  of  White's 
battery  blew  up.  which  caused  it  also  to  be  abandoned.  Two  of  the 
pieces  were  howitzers,  and  the  other  was  an  iron  gua  which  had  been 
coiidimned  at  every  inspection  for  the  last  year. 

During  the  trip  we  captured  in  action  sixteen  hundred  prisoners, 
and  killed,  and  wounded  as  many  of  their  cavalry  as  would  cover  our 
entire  loss. 

A  full  report  of  the  casualties  in  my  command  during  the  battle, 
and  during  the  trip  through  Middlo  Tennessee,  will  be  found  in  the 
annexed  tabular  fttateraent. 

A  considerable  amount  of  the  property  captured  on  the  trip  was 
brought  across  the  river. 

The  result  of  the  operations  of  the  cavalry  under  my  command 
during  the  battle  of  Clnekainauga  were,  first,  guarding  the  left  flank 
of  ihe  army  for  a  distance  of  ninety  miles,  during  and  for  tweniy 
dajs  preceding  the  battle  of  Chickainauga,  during  which  time  it  con- 
tinually observed  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy,  repelling  and  do- 
Teliiping  all  his  diversiins  '  During  the  battle,  wiih  the  available  force 
(winch  near  exceeded  two  t!iou-and  men)  not  on  other  duty,  such  as 
guarding  the  flanks,  we  fought  the  enemy  vigorously  and  successfully, 
killing  and  wounding  large  numbers,  and  capturing  two  thousand 
prisoners,  o:  e  hundred  wagons  and  teams,  a  large  amount  of  other 
property,  and  eighteen  stand  of  colors,  all  of  which  were  turned  over 
to  the  propi'r  authorities. 

To  (Jenerala  Wharton  and  Martin,  commanding  divisions,  and  Col- 
onels Wheel  r,  Mi.rgan,  Crews  and  Harrison,  commanding  brigades, 
I  tender  my  thanks  for  theit  zeal,  energy  and  gallantry  during  the 
engagement.  To  Ceneral  Davidson  and  Colonel  Hodge,  who  com- 
xnaiided  the  troops  which  joined  me  on  the  expedition  across  the  Ten- 
nessee riV(.T,  I  tender  my  thanks  for  their  good  conduct,  and  that  ef 
their  tro'ips  during  their  advance  upon  McMinnvillo,  and  to  Gener;l 


i 


Martin  and  Colonel  Avery  for  their  gallant  assietance  in  tho  capture  and 
destruction  of  the  wagon  train,  and  to  (Jen.  Martin  and  his  command 
particularlj  for  their  good  conduct  at  Farmington,  and  their  laborioui 
work  in  destrojing  the  biidges  on  the  railroad.  General  Wharton 
and  his  command  behnved  throughout  with  their  accustomed  gallantry. 

I  tender  my  thanks  to  the  following  members  of  my  staff  for  their 
gallantry  an!  good  conduct,  viz: 

Colonel  King.  Majors'  Burford.  Jenkins,  Ilame  and  Ilill ;  Captains 
Turner,  Powell.  Wade,  Flush  and  Kennedy,  and  Lieutenants  Pointer, 
Wailes,  Nichol  and  Hatch. 

To  Miijor  Ilume,  particularly,  am  I  indebted  for  his  great  gallantry 
during  the  fight  at  Farmington,  where  he  was  wounded,  and  to  Lieu- 
tenant Pointer,  my  aid,  for  his  gallantry  duiing  a  cavalry  charge, 
when  he  daelied  upon  the  enemy's  colo.r-bearer,  shot  him,  and  the* 
turned  and  brought  the  colors  back  to  the  command. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JO&EPII  WHEELER, 

Major  General. 


APPENblX  A. 

HF.AnQlARTERS    DaVIDSGn's  CaVaLRT  DiVISION,  ) 

October  7,  1863.  \ 

To  Major  General  WnEfLtR,  • 

Commanding  Cavalry  .* 

Gotral:  The  enemy  are  following  me.     I  am  now  six  mileage- 
low  town,  on  the  sioth  side  of  the  river. 
1  have  not  yet  made  a  derided  stand. 
Respectfully, 

n.   B.   DAVinsoN, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 

ntADQUARTERS  DAVInf!p>'s  CaVALRT  DiVIStON,  ) 

Alien's  //r,«.p,  October  3,  1863.       S 

Msjor  General  WiiEtLrn, 

Commanding  Cavalry  : 

GrvrRAi. :   I  am  moving  down  the  side  of  the  river.     The  enen^ 
are  following  me  np.     As  soon  as  J  can  get  a  position,  I  will  make  a 
■tand.     I  think  they  are  in  strong  force. 
Respectfully, 

n.  B.  DAVinsoj«, 
Brigadier  General  commandtTig. 
Troe  copit«  : 

M,  G.  Hursow,  J.  D.  C. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  LIDCELL,  COMMAND- 
ING   DIVISION. 

Headquarters  Lidpeli.'s  and  Lowby's  Brigade,      J 
Clebunit's  Ijivimm,  A.  T.,  btfoie  Chnttoitooga,  Te7inessee,^ 

October  lU,  1863.      ) 

Captain  Joseph  B.  Cumminc, 

A.  A.  G.,  late  of  the  Reserve,  A.  T.  : 

Captain:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  action  of  my  division. 
consisting  of  Walthall's  and  Govan's  brigades,  and  constituting  a  por- 
tion of  the  reserve  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  : 

About  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  Friday,  the  ISth  of  September,  I 
was  ordered  by  Major  General  "Walker  to  take  Alexander's  bridge, 
a<:ro6s  the  Chickamauga.  The  recoimoissance  Imade  was  a  very  hasty 
and  iiijpcrfect  one,  and,  relying  chiefly  upon  the  information  obtained 
from  General  Pegram,  I  instructed  Brigadier  General  Walthall,  of  my 
division,  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  enemy  in  possesion  of  the  bridge. 
This  was  promptly  executed,  and  in  three-quarters  of  an  hour  we  had 
it  in  possession.  The  force  in  our  front  consisted  of  Wilder's  mount- 
ed infantry, "from  whom  were  captured  a  half  dozen  tr  more  breech- 
loading  rifles.-  Our  loss  was  one  hundred  and  five  in  killed  and 
wounded,  and  I  can  only  account  for  this  disproportion  from  the  cflB- 
ciency  of  this  new  weapon,  our  attack  having  been  made  through  thick 
woods  and  cedar  underbrush,  rendering  the  artillery  of  the  enemy 
that  was  used  on  the  occasion,  comparatively  harmless.  The  bridge 
hw'ing  been  torn  up,  prevented  our  crossing  at  that  point,  and,  mak- 
ing a  detour  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half  northward,  we  cflected  a 
crossing  at  Byron's  ford,  continuing  thence  our  movement  to  a  posi- 
tion nearly  one  half  mile  in  front  of  Alexander's  bridge,  where  we 
bivouacked  for  the  night  on  the  same  ground  occupied  by  a  portion 
of  the  enemy  in  our  attack  on  the  bridge. 

The  next  morning,  the  1 9ih,  about  daylight,  we  continued  our  move- 
ment, in  the  same  direction,  towards  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill,  for  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  furthe'r,  where  we  halted  for  further  instructions. 

About  eight  o'clock,  the  firing  of  General  Forrest's  cavalry  and 
Ector's  and  Wilson's  brigades,  became  very  heavy  in  the  rear  of  the 
direction  we  were  taking,  and  on  the  right  of  our  intended  liuo  of 
battle.  The  country  arouud  was  nfostly  oak  woodland,  and  in  places 
t£ick  underbrush. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  Major  General  Walker  asked  me  to  go  with 
him  on  a  reconnoissance,  to  know  what  the(kmonstration  meant  then 
being  made  on  our  right.  •  After  proceeding  northward  one  and  a  half 
miles,  we  found  the  enemy  pressing  back  General  Ector's  and  Colonel 
Wilson's  brigades,  the  latter  more  or  less  in  confusion,  and  other  evi- 
dences of  attack,  making  it  apparent  that  a  heavy  torce  was  bearing 
down  upon  us.  I  replied  to  General  Walker's  inquiry  as  to  what  I 
thought  of  it,  "  that  I  was  satisfied  a  corps  of  the  enemy  was  about  w 
being  thrown  forward  to  turn  our  right  wing,  which  it  was  absolutely 


n«ccss»ry  for  us  to  meet  promptly  with  heavy  reinforcements  "     He 
agreel  with  me  in  this   opinion,  ami   iraincdiately  wrote  the  same  to 
General  Rragg.     At  the  same  time  orders  were  received  by  him  from 
General  Bragg   to  attack   the  enemy   immediately  with  all  his  force, 
upon  which  he  instructed  ma  to  brinj  up  my  force  to  the  relief  of  the 
two  biigades  already   mentioned,  and   to   retard,  if  possible,  the  fur- 
ther progress  of  the  enemy.     As   soon   as  my   command  could  reach, 
the  place,  I  formed  the   line   facing   northward,  General    Walthall  oa 
the  right.  Colonel  Govan  on    the  left,  and   at  once  moved  forward  to 
the   attack   at   fifteen    minutes  past  twelve,  P.  M.,  cautioning  Colonel 
Govan  to  look  well  to   his   left,  as   1   apprehended   that  his  left  wing 
would  strike  the  enemy  first,  although  he  w.is  not  then  visible  on  ac- 
count of  the  thick  undergrowth.     In  a  few  minutes  we  became  hotlj 
engaged  with  the   enemy's   infantry  and   artillery,  and,  pressing  for- 
ward   with  a  shout,  we  captured  all  the    artillery  in    our    immediate 
front,  with  many  prisoners  of  the  fifth,  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  sixteenth, 
eighteenth,  nineteenth  and  twenty-first   United   States   regulars  and 
fourth  Kentucky.     I  ordered  the  artillery  to  be  taken  to  the  rear  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  but  so  many  horses  had  been  killed  that  it  was  very 
diflicult  to  secure  the  pieces.     We  had  now  broken  through  two  lines  of 
the  enemy  immediately  in  our  front,  and  were  just  engaging  the  third 
when  it  was    discovered    that   their  extendeil  lines   were  overlapping 
and  flanking  us,  right  and  left,  upon  which  it  became  necessary  to  re- 
tire rapidly,  by  a  flank  movement  to   the  right,  to  avoid  destruction 
or  Capture.      After  reaching  the  next  hill  in  rear  of  us,  we  found  Gen- 
eral Cheatham's  division  taking  position,  having  just  come  up  a  little 
too  late  to  our  support  in   action.     It   was   now   perfectly  clear  that 
we  had  been  opposed  to  an  entire  corps  of  the  enemy,  (Gen.  Thomas',) 
to  drive  back  which  General  Cheatham's  division  soon  after  proved  to 
be  insufiicicnt.  My  command   now   having  been  reformed   and   rested 
for  a  short  time,  1  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  right  of  General  Cheat" 
ham's  line,  forming  an  ^use  angle  with  it,  upon  reaching  wbich«po- 
'■•■'. n  I  moved  forward  to  the  attaek  a  second  time,  in  line  nearly  at 
',  angles  to  that  assumed  by  tne  in  the  first  attack  ;   Colonel  Govan 
■•  on  the  right,  and  General  Walthall  on  the  loft.     The  latter  find- 
•  'he  enemy  well  posted,  and  in  very   strong  force,  after  a  contest 
'.  df  an  hour,  was  compelled  to  withdraw  about  two  hundred  yards, 
left    regiment   ff    Colonel    Govan's   brigade    falling    back    with 
,  The  right   of  Colonel   Govan's   brigade  had   captured  several. 
8  of  artillery  from   the   enemy,  which   seemed  lightly  supported 
.    whilst    endeavoring    to    secure    them,    was    fired    upon    by  ft 
federate  battery,  from  the   rear,  the   position  of  the  line  in  the 
'  rbrush  having  concealed  it  from  view,  thus  causitg  the  mistake. 
-  unlucky  accident  caused  him  to  retire  to  the  same  iine  with  Gea- 
(ral  Walthall,  without  accomplishing  his  object.     In  this  last  attack, 
V  -  fought  over  a  portion  of  the  ground  on  the  left  that  we  bad>con- 
led  for  in  the  first  esgagenrent,  the  enemy  having  pushed  up  and 
ipied  two-thirds  of  it.     It  was  now  within  an  hour  of  sunset,  whe& 
•rai  Cleburne's  division  <;ame   up  in  mj'   rear,  as  General  Cheat- 
.8  Lad  done  in  the  first  fight,  and  forming  his  line  of  three  bri- 


63 

gades  parallel  with  mine,  moved  forward  over  ns  upon  the  enemy,  pr 

gapinp  liim  aboat  two  burMired  yards  from  my  front.     This  attack  I 
ing  sudden  and  uiiexpectcd,  the  enemy  gave  way  for  a  distance  of  half 
mile  or  more,  when  both  parties  ceased  firing  fur  the  night.      It  nc 
beiiijr  dark,  Tve  bivouacked  where  we  were,  and  next  morning,  about  .-i. 
o'ciiick,  in  oledience  to  orders  received  from  General  Walker,  I  movt. 
my  command  with  General  lictor's  brigade,  about  a  mile  and  ahiif  to  li 
right,  on  the  prolongation,  and  in  support  of  General  Breckinridge's 
right.     After  arriving  there,  I   was   ordered  to   move  forward  to  the 
attack  in  place  of  (icneral    Breckinridge's   division,  which  had  been 
repulfcd  in  its  attiick  on   ihe  enemy's   left  fl.uik   and  rear.     Here,  a; 
the  order  (  f  Licutenaiit  General  Polk.  Genernl  Wall  hall's  brigmlo  wtvs 
detncled  from  me  and    moved   to  the   left  of  General   Gist's    brigade, 
vhieb  W88  then  m;»kiiig  a  I'irect  attack  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  lino 
near  his  breattworks.     At  the  same  time  an    order  was  given   me  1 
General  Hill  to  take  Colonel  Govun'i;  brigade  and  move  on  the  Ch:i- 
♦.anooga  road  and  engage  the  enemy  in  hi.'i  rear.     This  was  about  elevi' 
o'clock.    'After   moving  fo-rward   a  short  di.stance   I   ordered  Culoiu 
Govan  to  change  direction  to  the  left,  which  he  did,  finding  the  enemy 
in  some  woods  after  passing  a  small  field,  and  pushing  liiiu  back  to  the 
open  ground  in  rear  of  the  left  of  his  fortifications.     This  was  aboi:* 
half  a  mile    in    advance   of  Gist's   brigade   and   on   the   Chattanoo;: 
road,  cut  off  from  all  connexion   witli    any  of  our  forces.       After 
severe  engagement,  in  which  the  enemy  gave  way  opposite  the  rig! 
and  pressed  forward  in   large  force   en  the   left  of  the   brigade,  tin: 
apparently  designing  to  cut'  him  off,   Colonel    Govan    was   forced    t 
retire  rapidly  to  avoid  destryction. 

For  the  part  taken  by  General  Walthall  after  he  was  detached  fron: 
me  I  refer  to  his  report.  On  reaching  the  cover  of  the  timber  by  a 
circuitous  detour  to  the  right,  the  brigade  was  baltei  and  reformed, 
and  Kciou  afterwards  was  joined  by  General  Waltluiira  command  from 
the  kit  of  Gist's.  .  We  were  ordered  now  tc^remain  in  line,  awiiting 
further  oidcrs.  About  six,  P  M- ,  Lieutenant  General  Hill  ordered 
me  to  move  straight  forward  and  occupy  the  Chattanooga  roail.  I' 
requested  General  Hill  to  support  me  on  tho  left,  as  I  wa^  satisfied 
from  |)ersoiial  observation  dm  ing  Colonel  Gov^n's  attack  that,  I  would 
be  eiiiiladed  This  he  said  he  would  give  me  and  I  moved  o(f  al  ouco. 
The  line  had  pan?cil  some  little  di-Jtaiice  beyond  ihe  Chattttnooga  road, 
meeting  with  little  or  no  resistance  to  that  poii  t,  when,  as  e.xr.ected, 
it  was  enfiladed  by  batteries  on  both  fiank.s,  whilst  a  battery  in  front 
played  upon  it  across  a  wastei  Held.  1  immediately  placed  seven 
pieces  of  artillery  on  a  high  point  on  tho  light  of  General  Walthall  8 
brigade,  which  held  the  rignt  wing,  to  engage  the  enemy's  batteries 
and  draw  the  fire,  if  possible,  from  the  infantry.  My  line  was  par- 
allel with  the  enemy's  works  and  in  his  rear,  upon  his  left  Hank, 
nearly  half  a  mile.  Here  I  had  baited  and  ordered  the  men  to  lie 
down,  no  enemy  just  then  appearing  in  front.  There  was  a  wide 
open  fiolil  in  front  and  on  my  left.  The  enemy  soon  after  this  aj. pa- 
tently left  his  works  ami  pressed  upon  the  rear  of  my  left  (link,  < 
whilst  his  batteries  enfiladed  me.      Soon  afterwards  a  cloud  of  skir- 


69 

aiishers  BudJenly  emerged  from  the  woo'^s,  encircling  my  front  and 
right  wing.  From  tho  combination  of  iittacks,  ray  comraan'l  was 
forced  to  withdraw  to  avoid  being  captured.  A  part  of  my  filcir- 
snishers  were  nevertheless  captnrod,  together  with  Colonel  Scales, 
thirtieth  Mi8sis?inpi  regiment,  Walthall's  brigade.  The  Federals  had 
left  their  work.«,  at  this  time,  in  retreat  from  the  fi(dd,  and  our  whole 
line  was  moving  upon  them.  After -reforming  my  command  I  moved 
it  to  the  positi->n  on  the  Chattanooga  road,  near  McDonald's  house, 
where  it  bivouacked  on  the  ground  it  was  orderel  to  bold.  At  ten 
o'clock,  Sunday  night,  nij  pconts  reported  that  the  enemy  had  entirely 
withdrawn  from  the  field  and  disappeared  towards  Lookout  mountain. 
In  ihcfe  five  riifTerent  engagements,  in  the  cpace  of  throe  daj's,  I  lost 
s  great  many  ofli-ers  and  men;  my  loss  being  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  killed,  nine  hundred  and  sixty-three  wounded,  and  two  hundred 
and  seventy- seven  missing  ;  total,  one  thousand  fourhundredand  four; 
out  of  an  effective"  total  in  both  brigades  of  three  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-fivo  before  aciioa. 

The  attack  of  the  enemy  being  aimed  at  our  right  wing,  lis  force 
t".<!  necessarily  large  to  accomplish  his  object,  and,  in  every  instance, 
powered  me  witli  nnraberg.  In  no  instance,  in  the  last  two  day's 
•.  4iA  we  m:)ke  %n  attack  without  being  flanked  by  theoveilapping 
■;  of  the  enemy;  and,  although  forced  to  give  way  four  different 
-.  serious  and  heavy  loss  was  inflicted  upon  the  Federals  in  each 
k,  and  the  couimand  always  promptly  rallied  to  renew  the  engage- 
.t. 

In  connexion  with  Sunday  evening's  affiir,  it  is   proper  for  mo  to 

ix^te  that  the  forc^  which  was   reported   by   General   Forrest,  about 

ir,  P.  M.,  to  Tvieutcnint  General  Hill  to  be  moving  from  the  direc- 

of  Chattanooga,  in   support  of   the  enemy's  left  flink,  took  its 

;;on  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  waste 

;n  my  front,  supported  its  batteries  on  ray  right  flank  and  front, 

during    the  last    engagement,  threw    forward    its    skirmishers, 

li,  co-cperating  with  the  attack  on  my  left  and  rear  and  the  en^- 

g  fires  of  their  artillery,  kept  every  movement  of  their  own  side 

■^w  as  Weil  as  our  own.       This  force   retirr-d   with   tho  balance  of 

'  neray  at  dusk,  having  apparently  accomplished  its  object  of  pre- 

og  our  getting  in  his  rear.  •  Wc  took  about  eight  hundred  pris- 

'".  nearly  all  of  wljich  were  regulars  in  the  United   States  army. 

r  CooliiJge,  of  the  sixteent'a  United  States  itfantry,  was  killed. 

lin  Van  I'elt,  of  Loomis'  baHery,  wa^  captured   by   the   eighth 

insa?  and  first  Louisiana  inftntry.     Of  the  pieces  captured,  four 

w'.re  secured  by  Govan's  brigade  and  one   by  Walthall's.       I  refer  to 

the  reports  of  brigade  commanders  for  particulars.     Colonfd    Feath- 

^ ^^n,  of  the  fifih    Arkan«as,    was   killed   early,  in   the  first  action. 

"^lel  Gilfe^pic  and  Lieutenant  C'.Ione!  B-iucum  were  both  wounded. 

-..  iirigadicr  General  WaUhairs  brigade.  Lieutenant  Colonel  McKel- 

Tan^,  twenty-fourth  Misfi.ssippi,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Morgan,  twenty- 

riifith  Mississippi,   Major    I'egram,   thirty-fourth    Missisiippi,    Major 

'ps,  twenty-fourth  -^lis«issippi,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jones,  twenty- 

iith  Mississippi,  Major  Johnson,  thirtieth  Missi-ssippi,  and  Lieu- 


70 
• 
tenant  Colonel  RoynoMs,  thirtieth  Mississippi,  were  wounded,  the  last 
mortally.  Officers  and  men  of  both  brigades  behaved  with  unusual 
gallantry,  and  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they  did  their 
duty  to  their  country,  side  by  side,  against  greater  odds  than  they 
have  ever  hitherto  met.  Although  no  brilliant  result?  were  directly 
Bccomplished,  the  record  for  hard  fighting  cannot  be  well  surpassed. 
■In  my  humble  opinion  it  is  the  best  evidence  of  good  soldiers,  when 
overpowered  by  immense  numbers  on  all  sides,  to  be  able  to  rally 
promptly  and  return  again  and  again  to  the  contest  undaunted.  The 
enemy  was  held  in  check  by  the  resolute  bravery  of  my  two  brigades, 
united  with  the  rest  of  General  Walker's  command,  until  sufficient 
support  coulil  come  up  to  prevent  our  right  flank  from  being  turned 
by  General  Thomas'  corps.  To  my  two  brigade  comiiianders.  Briga- 
dier General  Walthall  and  Colonel  Govan,.  1  am  greatly  indebted  for 
their  prompt  C(j-operation  in  every  movement  and  quick  apprehensioa 
of  the  constantly  recurring  necessities  that  arise  on  a  battle-field.  I 
know  of  no  more  gallant  soldiers,  and  feel  honored  by  the  command 
of  euch  officers.  My  staff,  Captain  G.  A.  Williams,  assistant  adju- 
tant general,  and  Lieutenant  J.  L.  Bostick,  aid-dc-camp,  behaved 
with  their  usual  gallantry  and  need  no  commendation  at  my  hands. 
Lieutenant  Dulin,  brigade  inspector,  was  slightly  \soundcd  in  t^  fore- 
head. To  my  chief  surgeon,  Dr.  McFaddcn,  my  thanks  are  due  for 
his  prompt  attention  to  the  wounded  and  their  rapid  removal  from  the 
field,  however  distant  they  were  from  the  hospital  he  had  been  enabled 
to  establish.  I  would  respectfully  bring  to  notice  the  gallantry  of 
Captain  Fletcher,  of  the  thirteenth  Arkansas  regiment,  in  repelling 
the  sudden  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  capture  two  'pieces  of  artillery,^ 
which  were  unavoidably  delayed  in  bein^  rc-moved  fr.om  their  position, 
late  in  the  evening  of  the  20th.  I  thank  God  for  permitting  us  to  be 
the  survivors  of  a  great  victory  for  our  country. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

JOH^^  R.  LIDDELL, 
•  Brigadier  General. 


I  i  '  I  "^  r    I    I 


RErORT    OF    BRIGADIER    GENERAL  W.  PRESTON,  COM- 
MANDING   DIVISION. 

Greenville,  South  Carolina,  Odvhcr  31,  18G3. 

"aptain  Gallaher, 

Assistant  Afljutant  General : 

Captain  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit,  in  obedience  to  orders,  a 
report  of  the  part  taken  by  the  division  under  my  comfcaUd  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga:  , 

On  the  18tli  of  Sfptember  our  forces  advanced  in  several  columns 
to  cross  the  Chickamauga,  and  give  battle  to  the  Federal  army  under 
General  Rosencranz.  Major  General  Buckner's  corps,  consistinji^of 
Stewart's  division  and  miue,  moved  on  the  road  to  Thedford's  ford, 
and  on  the  evening  of  that  day  (Fridity)  my  command  bivouacked  at 
Hunt's  or  Dalton's  ford,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river  and  east  of 
::ie  road.  The  skirmi^crs  of  Colonel  Kelley's  brigade  soon  discov- 
ered the  enemy  posted  along  the  opposite  bank  of  the  stream,  extend- 
ing above  in  the  cfireciion  of  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill.  Soon  after 
nightfall  General  Grade's  brigade  was  moved  across*  the  ford  and 
established  in  line  of  battle,  running  almost  east  and  west,  near 
Hunt's  hou=e,  and  a  few  hundred  yards  horth  of  the  river,  where  it 
remained  during  the  night. 

On  the  next  morning  my  two  remaining  brigades  crossed  the  river 
*  dawn,  and  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  Hunt's  field.     Stewart's 

vision  soon  occupied  a  position  on  my  right,  and  extemlcd  eastward  in 
the  direction  of  Thedford's  ford.  Riding  forward,  I  fimnd  troop.?  of 
BrigadiT  General  Johnson's  and  Major  General  Hood's  commands 
forming  in  line  of  battle  nearly  at  right  angles  to  ray  own  line,  f*cing 
westward,  toward  the  Chattanooga  road,  and  afterwards  met  General 
Bragg,  Major  General  Hood  and  Major  General  Buckuer,  who  were 
conferring  together.  Having  reported  to  Major  General  Buckner 
the  position  of  ray  troops,  I  returned,  and  about  eight  o'clock  received 
an  order  from  him  to  advance  through  Hunt's  field,  in  the  direction  of 
the  enemy.  Gracie's  brigade  was  immediately  conformed  to  the  gen- 
eral line  of  battle  and  moved  westwardiy  toward  the  main  road — that 
runs  north  from  Lafayette  to  Chattanooga.  After  advancing  about 
six  hundred  yards  it  arrived  near  a  sharp  curve  of  the  Chickamauga, 
which  impeded  further  progress.  I  halted  the  command  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill  overloolfing  the  stream  and  plain  below.  The  enemy's 
lines  and  batteries  were  discovered  about  fifteen  hundred  yards  dis- 
tant, in  the  direction  of  Lee  &.  Gordon's  mill,  across  the  bend  of  the 
river,  which  it  would  have  been  necessary  to  cross  twice,  with  an 
open  fi«ld  intervening,  swept  by  their  artillery,  had  fhc  advance  con- 
tinued straight  forward.  Having  halted  Gracie,  I  drew  up  Kelly's 
brigade  three  hundred  yards  in  the  rear,  upon  a  declivity  in  the  field, 
and  "lYigg's  brigade  about  three  bundro<l  yards  in  rear  of  Kelly's,  on 
the  prolongation  of  Bate's  brigade,  of  Stewarts  division,  which  was 


72 

on  the  right — thus  forming  my  division  in  a  column  of  three  brig- 
»fle9.  A  tocky  hill  near  Gracie's  right,  overlooking  the  fielcl  below, 
sfToriled  an  excellent  position  for  artillery.  Upon  it  I  posted  Jof- 
fiies'  battery.*  The  enemy  commenced  !>heiling  my  lines  rapiiily,  and 
I  lost  a  coniDiissioned  officer  killed,  and  a  few  men  of  the  sixth  Florida, 
with  Lieutenant  Line  and  others  of  the  sixty-third  Tennessee  wounded. 
A  shot  or  two  was  fired  by  Jiffries,  but  I  ordered  the  biitterj'  to  cease 
firing,  as  the  distance  was  too  great  to  assure  proper  accuracy.  My 
troops  remained  in  ranks  without  further  reply,  patiently  enduring 
the  fire.  About  twelve  o'clock,  in  compliance  with  an  order  received 
Major  General  Huckner,  I  moved  my  coromnnd  by  the  ri;;ht  flunk  from 
about  six  or  eight  hundreil  ^rds,  to  a  position  somewhat  west  of  north 
from  Iluiit's  field.  Trigj's  brigade  occupied  the  front,  in  a  woodland 
nyr  a  small  cabin.  Graeie  was  formed  near  Trigg,  and  Kelly  was 
posted  in  the  rear,  .supporting  Leyden's  battalion  of  artillery.  No 
farther  event  of  importance  occurred  during  the  day  to  Gracie's  or 
Kelly's  brigades.  Soon  after  Trigg  occupied  his  position,  some  three 
hundred  yards  in  advance  cf  Graeie  and  Kelly,  his  skirmishers,  under 
Colonel  M:ixwell,  engoged  those  of  tlie  enein^  with  spirit,  and  soma 
two  hours  afterwards  were  driven  in  by  the  eneiuj's  artillery.  There 
was  a  small  cfru  field  three  or  four  hundred  yards  in  front  of  Trigg,  ia 
which  the  enemy  were  posted.  About  two  or  three  o'clock  a  continuous 
and  heavy  fire  of  infantry  and  artillery,  and  their  shells  exploding  be- 
jond  our  rear  lines,  announced  a  conflict  near  the  field  in  front.  1  was 
informed  that  Hood's  division  was  attacking  the  enemy  in  the  field, 
whilst  my  division  was  held  in  reserve  Soon  after  I  receivtd  an 
order  from  Major  General  Buckner  to  detach  a  brigade  and  reinforce 
General  Hood.  For  this  purpose  Colonel  Trigg  was  ordered  to  ad- 
vance in  the  direction  of  the  firing,  and  to  give  the  required  support. 
The  action  soon  became  hot  in  front.  Trigg  join;d  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral Robertson,  of  Hood's  division,  and  attacked  the  enemy.  They 
were  broken  in  coufusion.  The  sixth  Florida,  under  Colonel  Find  lay, 
gastained  heavy  loss,  but  owing  to  some  misapprehension  of  orders, 
tlie  brigade  failed  to  capture  ths  enemy's  battery,  or  to  reap  the  fruits 
of  their  repulse.  As  1  was  not  personally  superintending  the  attack, 
I  refer  to  the  report  of  Colonel  Trigg  for  details. 

Riding  forward,  however,  I  found  the  evidences  of  a  stubborn  and 
sanguinary  conflict  in  the  margin  of  the  wood  and  the  corn  field  be- 
yond, from  which  the  enemy  were  retiring  their  lines.  Night  coming 
on,  Trigg  bivouacked  in  the  woodlatul  near  tho  edge  of  the  corn-field, 
while  Gracio  and  Kelly  occupied  a  position  in  front  of  a  little  hut, 
near  which  Major  General  Buckner  had  established  his  headquarters. 

1  have  no  nienns  of  ascertaining,  with  accuracy,  the  loss  sustained 
by  Uiy  division  on  Saturday,  but  estimate  it  at  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  or  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  killed  and  wounded,  nearly  all 
of  whom  were  from  'J'rigg's  brigade.  During  the  night  Gracie's  and 
Kelly's. brigades  were  vigorously  engaged  in  constructing  defences  to 
Btrcngtheu  the  left,  and,  in  the  morning,  Williams'  and  Leyden's  bat- 
talions of  artillery  v, ere  supported  bj  my  infantry,  under  coVor  of 
good  field  entrenchments. 


On  Sujula}',  about  midday,  the  battle  bccntBO  fierce  nlong  tbe  ri^rbt 
towards   Chattanooga,  r.nd    tLere  was   a   general    advance  of  the  left 
wing,  under  Licuteunnt  (Jotioral   Longstrect.      Stewart's  division  and 
Trigg's  brigade  were  moved  forward  northwestwardly,  in   the  direc- 
tion of  Brotherton's  house,  on  the  Chattanooga  riad    Under  an  order 
from  Major  General  Budiner,  1   ailvanced  with   Gracie's  and   Kolly's 
brig:ides,  with  tb?  exception. of  t!ie  sixiy-ftfth  (ieorgi:i.  Colonel  Moore, 
which  was  left  to  protect   JoflVies'  battery,  near   Hunt's  fi'-M.  on  tho 
left.     Grade's  and   Kelly's   brigad(.'S  were   formed   in    line  of  battle 
aerosB   tbe   Chattanooga   road,  in   front   of   Erotbcrton's   ho'.'se,   and 
Trigg  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.     The  enemy,  in  some  fields  on  the 
north,  maintained  an  active  fire  of  fhot  and  shell  on  rr.y  troops  nntil 
about  half  past  three  o'clock,  when    I  received   an   order  to  move  to- 
w»r<I  Dyer's  housr  and  field  to  support  BrigMdi<  r  General  Kershaw. 
Guided   by  Captain    Terrill.   1    advanced   with    Gracie's   and    Kelly's 
brigades,  Trigg's  having  been  retained  near  Brothcrton's  by  Major 
General  Buckncr,  to  resist  an  Bpj)rehended  attack  of  cavalry  on  our  left 
and  rear.     After  moving  through  the  woodland  between  the  Chatta- 
nooga road  and  Dyer's  farm  house,  I  reached  a  l:irge  fiebl  extending 
ifcrthward  to  some  wooded  ravines  and  heights.     These  heights  stretch 
nearly  cat-t  and  wrst   frcra   the    Lafayette   and   Chattanooga    road,  to 
another  nearly  parallel  road  running  from   (Crawfish  Ppririg  to  Ros3- 
ville.  and   about   two   iniies  west  of  tho  former.      F/o:n    the    edge  of 
(■'s  field  the  ground  descend.s  to   a  wooded   ravine,  and   after  two 
i.ree  intervening  drpie?sions,  each   succeeding  height   being  more 
-  itcd.  you  re.ich  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  wl.ich   is  some  two  hun- 
i  fret  above  the  level  of  the   |  hiin.     Along  this    ri<lge  the  enemy 
■   drawn -up   under  General    Thomas,  as   it   is    believer!   from  the 
mcnt  of  prisoners.     A  strong  battery  wa.s  poj>ted  on  the  loftiest  ' 
most  eastern  of  tbei-c  heights,  toward  Snodgrass  hotisc  and  Chat- 
tai.ooga      On  tbe  northeast  the   undulations  were  gentle,  and  cleared 
fields  and  farms  stretched  away  to  the  ea&twaid  to  open  and  wooded 
:  "     riS. 

1   pon  these  plains  the   battle   had   raged   during  the  diy.  and  the 

lits  were  the  key  of  the  enemy's  position,  ond  his  last  stronghold. 

■oon  as  the  adv.inf-e  brigade  of  Gracic  rcschcd  Dyer's  dM,  I  or- 

d  him  to  form  in  liiic  of  battle,  with  hi^  left  wjng  resting  near  » 

[line  on  the  sntnniit  of  the  bill,  near  the  edge  of  the  field,  and  in 

•  of  tlic  enemy's  strongest   position.     'I'his  was   dune  with  great 

alien  and  in  admirable  order      I  then  directed  Colonel  Kelly  to 

I  his  brigade  on  the  loJt  of  Gracic,  and  to  ch;inge  direction  to 

it.f  right  as  he  advanced.     The  owner   of  the   f;irm.  John  r)yer.  one 

of  my  couriers,  gave  roe  a  most  accurate  and  vriluatde  description  of 

the    local    topoirravhy,    and    I    directed    K'dly    to   cover   and    protect 

Gracie's  left.   Whilst  engaged  in  bringing  Kelly  into  pnyition,  (iracie'i 

brit?«de  disappeared  in   the  wood,  ailvancing  against  tbe  battery  hill. 

lered   Captain  ■  Blackbnrn.    my  viiluiit»,'cr  aid-de-camp,  to  follow 

'  ascertain  from  (iencral  Grscie  by  what  nnthority  he  had  mov^d. 

'■r«l  (iracie  replied  that  he  had  been'  ordered  to  advance  by  Brig. 

r  General  Kershaw,  who  was  in  the  ravine  just  beyond  the  field. 


71 

The  movement  was  slightly  premature,  as  Kelly  was  not  formed, 
but  I  at  ouce  orilcred  hia  brijiade  forward,  and  sent  Captain 
Blackburn  to  -direct  him  to  oblitiue  to  the  ri^ht  again,  so  fis  to 
press  toward  the  slope  of  the  hill  in  the  rear,  wliile  Gracie  was 
attacking  in  fioiit.  The  enetnv  had  kept  up  a  rapid  artiller}-  fire  from 
the  hill  and  across  the  field,  but  Gracie,  passing  through  Kershaw's 
ranks,  which  were  halted  in  the  first  ravine  beyond  the  field,  dashed 
over  the  ridge  beyond  and  into  the  hollow's  between  it  and  the  battery 
hill.  The  brigade  advanced  with  splendid  courage,  but  was  raefby  a 
destructive  fire  of  the  enemy  from  the  cover  of  their  field  works  oa 
the  hill.  The  second  Alabama  battalion  stormed  the  hill  and  entered 
the  cntrenchmt'iits.  litre  an  obstinate  and  Moody  combat  ensued. 
Brigadier  Generr.l  Gracie,  whilst  bravely  leading  his  men,  had  his 
horse  shot  under  him.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fulkeraon,  commanding 
the  sixty-third  Tennessee,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jolly,  of  the  forty- 
third  Alabama,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Holt,  of  the  first  Alabama  battal- 
ion, and  Lieutenant  (Colonel  Hall,  of  the  second  Alabama  battalion, 
were  severely  wounded  whilst  gallantly  leading  their  respective  com- 
mands in  the  assault  on  the  hill.  Many  brave  officers  and  men  here 
fell.  'J"Le  brigade  carried  into  action  about  two  thousand  and  thrqe 
ofiicers  and  men,  and,  in  the  space  of  an  hour,  lost  si.x  hundred  and 
ninet\'-eight  killed  and  wounded.  The  second  Alabama  battalion,  out 
of  two  hundred  and  thirty-nine,  lost  one  hundred  and  si.xtynine 
killed  and  wounded.  Li  the  action  its  color  was  pierced  in  eighty- 
three  places,  and  was  afterwards,  by  request,  presented  to  Ilis  Excel- 
lency the  President,  who  promoted  the  brave  standard-bearer,  Robert 
W.  llieth,  for  conspicuous  cour.ige.  George  W.  Norris,  of  Captain 
Wise's  company,  of  Hall's  battalion,  fell  at  the  foot  of  .the  enemy's 
fiag-staft',  and  was  burieil  at  the  spot  where  he  had  so  nobly  died. 

Grade's  brigade  advanced  between  four  and  five  o'clock,  and  Kelly 
moved  about  ten  minutes  afterwards  to  assail  the  second  hill  on  the 
ridge,  three  or  four  hundred  yanls  west  of  the  battery  hill.  I  ordered 
him  to  change  direction  obliquely  to  the  right,  which  was  promptly 
done,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  brigade  had  passed  beyond  the  troops 
halted  on  the  left  of  Kershaw's  brigade  in  the  ravine  and  engaged 
the  enemy  on  the  ridge,  three  or  four  hundred  yards  beyond.  Then 
a  desperate  combat  ensued,  the  hostile  forces  being  not  more  than 
thirty  or  foity  yards  apart.  Kelly  gained  the  hill  after  a  bloody 
struggle,  and  the  enemy  vainly  sought  to  dislodge  him  from  it. 

Just  as  1  first  iornied,  and  moved  Kelly  into  action,  I  met  Major 
General  Hindman  and  staff,  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  near  Dyer's 
field.  The  General  though  suffering  froo  a  contusion  on  the  neck, 
from  a  fragment  of  shell,  remained  in  the  s.addle.  He  informe<l  me 
of  the  state  of  affairs,  and  assured  nie  of  my  opportune  arrival,  and 
authorized  me  to  post  a  battery  of  his  on  a  point  of  the  field  so  as  to 
guard  against  and  cover  an^'  repulse  of  my  troops  or  any  adverse 
event.  This  was  done  by  me  though  I  did  not  learn  the  name  of  the 
ollicer  commanding  tl!e  battery.  \Vhen  the  fire  on  Graoie  und  Kelly 
was  fully  developed,  its  great  volumt  and  extent  assured  me  that  sup- 
port was  indispensable.     At  once  I  dispatched   Captain   Blackburn, 


!>■  !     UY\    hIMIiil"   I'dl.K    "K    LA 


75 

Captain  Preston  an i  Lieutenant  Johnston,  of  my  Staff,  with  orders 
to  bring  Trigg's  brignde  forward  rapidly,  and  to  inform  Major  Gene- 
ral Biickner,  at  Brothfrton's,  of  my  situation  and  tbc  urgent  neces- 
sity of  the  order.  Shortly  after  Captain  Harvey  Jones,  A.  A  Gene- 
ral of  Gracic's  brigade,  rode  up  and  iDforincd  me  that  Gracie  had 
gained  the  hill,  but  could  not  hold  it  without  reinforcerarfnts.  I  in- 
structed him  to  inform  Gracie  that  the  hill  must  be  held  at  all  hazards, 
■nd  that  I  would  send  Colonel  Trigg  to  bis  support  in  a  few  minutes. 
Soon  after  Colonel  Kelly  sent  me  word  by  l^ieutenant  McDaniel  that 
he  could  not  hold  the  hill  without  succor,  and  1  gave  him  a  similar 
response.  This  was  about  the  period  of  the  heaviest  firo,  ai>d  I  rode 
forward  to  where  Colonel  Kelly  was  engaged  on  the  hill,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Mclianicl  brought  hioi  to  mc.  I  reiterated  the  order  and  the 
assurance  of  Trigg"s  speedy  arrival,  and  passed  on  to  the  right,  where 
I  met  General  Gracie.  He  reportcil  his  ammunition  almost  exhausted, 
and  was  withdrawing  his  men  to  replenis^h  his  cartridge  boxes. 

In  the  meantime,  General  Buckner  had  sent  me  Colonel  Trigg's 
brigade,  which,  advancing  in  double-'|uick  time,  arrived  at  a  critical 
moment,  while  the  battle  was  raging  fiercely,  (^ne  of  Trigg's  regi- 
ments went  to  the  support  of  General  Gracie.  while  the  remainder  of 
his  brigade  was  ordered  to  form  on  the  left  of  Kelly  and  to  attack  the 
■    'my  on  the  ridge.     This  fresh  brigade,  moving  over  the  troops  halted 

the  valley  below,  assaulted  with  great  ardor  the  enemy  on  the  left 

;    Kelly,  and  quickly  carried  the  first  ridge/    The  fresh  and  kngth- 

1  Tjing  line  of  (ire  from  this    fine  command 'reanimated   our   men.  and 

M.enrtcned  the  enemy,  who  reliiiquished  their  first  position,  and  fell 

■  k  to  a  second  ridge,  occupied  by  a  strong  force  and  posted  behind 
i  works.     A  momentary  lull  ensued.      Ijrigadier  General   Robert- 

I  reported  to  me,  and  1  directed  him  to  occupy  and  hold,  the  posi- 

n  from  which  Gracie  had  withdrawn  to  replenish  hi»   ammunition. 

<^nt,  at  this  time,  for  Colonel  Kelly,  who  repBrted  in  person  and 
''  nned  me  that  the  enemy  in  his  front  seemed  in  confusion.     I  di- 

ted  him  to  use  his  discretion  an<l  prefs  the  advantage  by  advancing 

far  as  practicable,  with  Trigg  wheeling  to  the  right  toward  the  de- 
•  Mty  of  the  battery  hill,  stretching   towards   Chattanooga.     It  was 

1  •moonlight,  and    Kelly   returning  to   his   command   after  a    few 

I  utes  absence  fiom  it.  the  fire  reopened,  and,  continuing  for  a  short 
tnc,  ceased.     It  wa-i  the  last  fire  of  the  •day,  and  closed  the  battle. 

in  the  last  attack  made  by  Trigg  and  Kelly,  Colonel  Hawkins,  of 

the  fifth  Kentucky,  a  brave   and   skilliul   officer   of  Kelly's   brigade, 

captured  two  colonels,  one  lieutenant  colonel,  a  number  of  company 

":<  ers,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  jirisoncrs.   The  twenty-second 

'  bigan,  the  eighty  ninth    (Jhio   and   part  of  "the   twenty-first  Ohio 

•  ments  were  captured  by  Trigg's  and  Kelly's  brigades,  and  five 
i.d  of  coloiB  Were  taken  by  sprgeant  Tiinmons,  of  the  seventh  Plo- 

•  ^  regiment,  and  by  privates  Hencker,  Harris,  Hylton  and  Carter, 
of  the  fifty-fourth  Virginia.  Colonels  t'arlton,  Lefebvre  and  Lienten- 
aot  Colonel  Glenn  were  among  the  prisoners. 

The  next  morning  about  four  thousand  five  hondred  stand  of  arm*, 
}'  nhic^i  had  Icen  thrown  away  by  the  flying  enemy,  were  secured  bj 


76 

my  comraaiid.  I  learned  th»t  Sti^aJraan's  division  ijnd  troops  from 
General  Granger's  reserve  corps  b.'ld  the  hoi;Tlits  attacked  by  my 
d!vi^i(.n,  and  from  captured  artiHorisit?.  at  Snodgr.is9'  house,  that  the 
hill  hill  been  occupied  by  a  battery  of  the  regular  army  and  another 
from  Ohio. 

Am"r.j:  rhe  wounded  at  Snodgrass'  honsc,  where  a  hospital  had  been 
e8t:ibli!^hed  by  the  enemy,  were  ui:iny  pri^sonern,  some  of  whom  were 
from  Crittendpn'a  corps,  portions  of  wbich  seem  also  to  have  occupied 
the  hill.  In  the  attack  on  the  hill  no  artillery  could  be  used  by  us 
effectively.  The  struggle  was  alone  for  the  infantry.  Few  fell  who 
were  not-  Btrnck  down  by  the  rille  or  the  musket.'  Whil-t  at  the  height 
of  the  engagement,  the  reserve  artillery  of  Major  Williamp  opened 
fire,  by  order  of  Major  General  Butkner,  on  the  rear  lines  of  tl:e  ene- 
my, but  with  whiit  eflect  1  could  not  judge.  The  fire  served,  however, 
to  dr.iw  that  of  the  enemy  to  another  part  of  the  field  on  my  right. 
As  my  line  advanced,  I  sent  word  to  General  Bucknor,  requesting 
him  to  cause  \\  illiams  to  cease  firing  or  he  would  eiifilade  my  men 
who  had  now  the  ridge,  and  the  batteries  were  promptly  slopjied.  The 
battalion  of  Georgia  artillery,  under  Major  Leyden.  was  engaged  with 
Colonel  Trigg  on  Saturday,  and  that  of  Captain  Jeffries,  protected 
by  the  sixty-fifth  Georgia,  occupied  an  important  position  on  the  left. 
Captain  Peebles*'  battery,  of  M:ijor  Leyden"?  command,  sustaineil  a 
small  loss  in  the  engagement.  No  opportunity  for  tho  advantageous 
use  of  his  guns  was  ofT.'red  in  that  quarter  of  the  field.  I  refer  to 
Major  Leydeu"s  report  for  "details 

The  next  morning.  I  r.rdered  the  burial  of  the  dead.  Many  of  our 
brave  men  had  fallen  in  charging  the  slopes  leading  to  the  summit  of 
the  ridge.  The  musketry  from  the  low  breastworks  of  the  enemy  on 
the  hill  attacked  by  General  (irucie,  had  ?et  fire  to  the  dry' foliage, 
and  scorched  ami  Idackened  corp-ses  gave  fearful  proof  of  the  heroism 
an<l  suftering  of  t\\<f  brave  men  who  liad  stormed  the  hill.  The  ground 
occu[)ied  by  the  enemy's  battery  was  strewn  with  slain.  More  to  the 
north,  in  a  wooded  doll  in  front  of  Kelly  and  Trigg,  many  dead  and 
wounded  of  the  enemy  were  found,  who  had  fled  the  combat  and  sought 
concealment  in  its  shadows.  All  the  dead  along  my  line,  whether 
friend  or  enemy,  were  buried,  and  the  wound:d  removed  to  hospital. 

1  have  already  mentioned  the  services  of  Brigadier  General  (jra- 
cie  and  his  coniinand.  and  di-sire  to  express  my  approval  of  the  cinvr- 
ag«  and  skill  he  nianiftsted  in  the  battle.  It  also  aifirds  me  pleasure 
to  njiice  ihe  valualde  services  of  Colonel  J.  M.  Moody,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Saiiford,  Major  McLennan.  Captain  Walden  and  Surgeon 
Luckie,  of  Gracie's  brigade.  Colonel  Tiigg  maintained  and  incnased 
bis  justly  merited  re[futation  as  a  brave  and  skillful  officer.  Every 
order  was  executed* with  enery  and  intnlligence.  To  the  rapidity 
witL  which  he  moved  his  command  to  the  support  of  Kelly's  and  tJra- 
cie's  brigades,  and  availed  himself  of  the  advantages  of  the  fiehl,  I 
attributed,  in  a  great  measure,  the  success  of  my  command  in  carry- 
ing tlje  position.  Colonel  Findli-.y,  of  the  sixth  Florida  moved  at 
once  to  my  support,  witii  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wade,  of  the  fifty-buirth 
Virginia,  while    the   seventh   Florida,   under  Colonel    Bullock,  was 


BI^AXTON    BRAGT. 


77 

brought  forward  by  CoIoJicl  Trif.'g,  in  person.  During  the  struggle 
for  the  heights.  Colonel  KpIIj  had  his  horse  shot  under  him.  and  dis- 
played great  noursge  nnd  skill.  He  animated  hm  men  by  hiseximple, 
and  with  unshaken  firmness  retained  the  ground  ho  had  won.  During 
tho  aeiion,  he  wa.s  reinforced  by  a  regiment  from  the  brignde  of  Brig- 
adier General  Patton  Anderson,  who  was  in  his  vicinitv,  for  which 
timely  aid  I  dt^ijire  to  expi-ee.s  my  oblications 

Colonel  Kelly  took  into  action  eight  bur.dred  and  seventy-si.x  offi- 
cers nnd  men.  one  of  liis  regiments  (the  si.xtyfiftb  Georgia)  being 
detached,  and  lo^t  three  hundred  killed  and  wounde<l.  Colonel  I'aliner, 
of  the  fifty- eighth  North  Carolina,  though  wounded,  remain- d  on  the 
^!d,  and  bravely  comrnandcfJ  his  regiment.  J.,ieatenilnt  Colonel  Ed- 
muni  Kirby,  a  young,  brave  and  lamenied  officer  of  the  same  regi- 
ment, fell  early  in  the  action.  Captain  Lynch,  of  the  Bixty-third 
Virginia,  an  i  Lieutenant  Colonel  C  inner.  Major  Myneher  and  Adju- 
tant Thoma.s  IJ.  Cook,  of  the  fifth  Kentucky,  merit  honorable  men- 
tion. Captain  .Joseph  Desha,  of  the  fifih  Kentucky,  who,  though 
painfully  wounded,  remained  on  the  field  until  the  enemy  was  de- 
feated, deserves  especial  commendation.  Captain  Desha  has  been 
often  in  action,  and  always  honorably  nientioned,  and  I  respectfully 
recomraejid  hirn  for  promotion. 

The  actual  i^trcngtb  of  the  command  taken  by  me  into  action  on 
Sunday  was  three  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-two  men.  and 
three  htJiJre'l  and  twcnty-^ix  officers,  being  an  aggregate  of  four 
thousand  and  seventy-eight  infantry,  and  my  total  loss  in  the  battle 
was  tv.elve  boudred  and  8cventy-fiv»  killed  and  wounded — and  sixty- 
one  missing,  nenily  all  of  the  lost  having  be<  a  subi-cquently  counted 
for. 

\  desire  to  express  ray  thanks  to  my  staff  for  the  efficient  aid  they 

lercd  me.  ■Nlijor  W  M.  Ow'en,  chief  of  artillery  ;  Captain  Sand- 
ford,  a.o^ist.mt  «djutant  general;  Ca;jtain  Edward  C.  Preston,  divis- 
ion inspector;   Lieutenant  Edward  Whitfield,  ordnance  oiliiicr  ;   Lieu- 

nt  Adams,  a^Ki.stJnt  adjutant  and   inspector  general  ;    Liiutenant 

:tjs  H    JnhnMon,  ail  de-camp,  an'i  Captain   J    C.  Blackburn    vol- 

: tcer  aid-de  c  imp.  were  aitively  employed  during  tlie.  battle,  and   I 

I-  nder  to  them  tir-  .Tsurance  of  my  cense  of  their  valii  ible  servics    on 

;'  0  fi"!d.     Lieatei.'irit  Bo»lefc,'of  Morgan's  cavalry,  wa?  ieuj[,o..irily 

i;h  d  to  my  8.' iff,  and  asiii!<ted  me  greatly  during  ta.'  erigage'n°nt. 
jor  Edward  Cruehfield,  quartermaster,  and   M-joi    Braclforii  were 

er  orders  a  short  dii-tance   in    thfe   rear,  but  availed  ibecnselveg  of 

1  interval  to  join  roe  at  the  front,  and  fulfilled  their  respective  dn- 
lu'S  to^ny  entire  satisfaction.  Surgeon  Benjamin  Gillespie,  by  the  es- 
tablishment of  field  hospitals  and  bis  care  of  the  wounded,  merits  my 
•"•(T.ks  and  official  notice. 

Enclosed  I  tran«mii  the  report,  of  General  Graeie.  Colonels  Kelly 
i  Tfigg.  with  others  of  suhordinate  officers.  1  refer  to  them  for 
many  details  which  cannot  he  embraced  in  this  report,  and  invite  at- 
tention to  the  inptsnccs  of  ^kill  and  gallantry  shown  by  officers  and 
men  which  they  record.  The  troops  of  my  division  had  never  been 
engaged  in  any  important  battle,  having  been  atationed  during  tkc 


78 

war  chiefly  in  southwestern  Virginia  and  east  Tennessee,  to  defend 
their  mountain  pusses  from  invasion.  Hehl  iu  reserve  while  the  con- 
flict raged  around  them  for  a  d:iy  and  a  half,  they  uv.uiifested  a  noble  ardor 
to  share  its  dani,'ers  and  its  glories.  Though  long  iu  service,  and  not 
aspiring  to  the  title  of  veterans,  I  felt  strong  conlidence  in  their  pa- 
triotism, courage  and  discipline.  The  hour  for  the  trial  of  all  these 
great  qualities  arrived;  every  hope  was  justified,  andj  feel  assured 
t^hat  both  officers  and  men  won  honorable  and  enduring  renown  upoa 
the  memorable  field  of  Chickamauga. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain  vour  obedient  servant, 

W.  I'RESTON, 
Brigadier  General,  P.  A.  C.  S.  ^ 


TABULAR  STATEMENT  of  the  strength  of  Preston's  Division  in 
the  Battle  of  Chickamnugn,  and  the  Return  of  the  Killed,  Wounded  mid 
Missing. 


1 

ErFECTlTE 

Strengto. 

Killed,  Wooded  iSD  Mifsino 

Sept.  19,1803 

Sept.  20, 1868 

Kil 

ed.  • 

M'oa 

)dud. 

H!bB 

ins. 

Total. 

COHMiND. 

? 



o 

.S 

i 

1  ' 

c 

Is 

oJ 
48 
57 

o 

O 

9i 

c  a 

c 

Oracle's  Brigade 

135 
119 

103 

1,S92 
1,417 
1.037 

134 

lOS 
84. 

1,800 

1,091 

•91 

6 
3 

14 

19 
15 

21S 
323 

27 
5 
29 

61 

726 
3S2 

329 



Total 

303     4,448 

3J6 

3,7.'i2 

164 

68 

1,014 

1,336 

— * 

•Iho  sUty-fiflh  Georgia  detached  on  September  30th.  ^    PRESTON 

Brigadier  Gmr-il  commanding  Division. 


t 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  N.  B.  FORREST,  COM- 
MANDING  CAVALRY. 

IIeadqvartv.rs  Forrest's  Cavai.rv  Command,  } 
JMhm,  ffeorg'.a,  October  22,  1863.       ^ 

Lieutenant  Colonel  George  W.  Brent, 

A.  A.  General  Army  of  Tennessee  : 

Colonel:  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  the  following  repor*  of  the 
operations  of  my  coinmaud  during  the  action  at  Chiokainauga  creek  on 
the  19th  and  2Uth  ultimo ;  also  a  brief  statement  of  its  movements 
and  engagements  prior  and  subsequent  to  the  battle  of  Chickaraauga, 
accompanying  it  with  the  reports  of  Brigadier  General  Pegram,  com- 
manding divi.«ion,  and  Colonel  J.  L.  Scott,  commanding  brigade.  No 
report  from  Brigadier  General  Armstrong,  commanding  first  division 
of  the  corps,  has  been  received.  A  report  is  also  due  from  Brigadier 
General  Davidson,  who  commanded  a  brigade  of  General  Pegram's 
division  during  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  The  reports  of  both 
officers  would  no  doubt  have  been  furnished  but  for  the  movements  in 
East  Tennessee,  and  afterwards  under  General  Wheeler  in  Middle 
Tennessee,  which  gave  no  time  or  opportunity  to  make  them  out. 

OnthePth  ultimo  I  was  ordered  to  establish  my  headquarters  at 
Dalton,  and  my  command  was  located  and  disposed  of  as  follows: 
Colonel  Hodges'  brigade  was  sent  on  the  Cleaveland  and  Dalton  road 
to  meet  the  enemy — then  reported  at  Athens,  Tennessee,  and  advanc- 
ing;  Colonel  Scott's  brigade  was  ordered  to  Ringgold,  Georgia,  to 
watch  the  enemy  on  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  that  point ;  Gen- 
eral Pegram  was  left  at  or  -near  Peavine  church.,  and  Brigadier 
General  Armstrong's  division  was  locate<i  in  front  of  General  Cheat- 
ham's infantry  division,  on  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road.  I 
retained  with  mo  at  Dalton  about'  two  hundred  and  forty  men  of 
General  Morgan's  command. 

The  reports  of  General  Pegram  and  Colonel  Scott  sufficiently  de. 
tail  their  operations  prior  to  the  battle  of  Chickamaoga,  and  require 
no  further  comments  here. 

On  Thursday,  1 7th  ultimo,  I  moved  from  Dalton,  and  on  Friday 
morning  from  Ringgold  to  Peavine  creek,  having  within'?  Morgan's 
men  (under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Martin)  and  niy  escort,  and  met  the 
enemy's  cavalry  (>Iintry'8  brigade)  at  Peavine  creek.  Dismounting 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Martin's  command,  and,  assisted  by  Brigadier 
General  B.  R.  Johnson's  command,  the  enemy  were  driven  across  the 
Chickamauga  at  Reed's  bridge,  at  which  point  I  was  joined  by  Gen- 
eral Pegram's  division.*  Crossing  the  creek  at  a  ford  above  the  bridge, 
the  country  was  scoured  for  a  mile  west  of  the  bridge.  General 
Hood's  command  of  infantry  also  crossed  the  Chickarosuga  and  forraeil 
in  line  of  battle,  my  command  bivouacking  on  the  fieU  in  the  rear  of 
line,  near  Alexander's  bridge. 

'  '11  the  morning  of  the  19th,  I  was  ordered  to  move  with  my  com- 


80 

mand  down  the  road  towards  Reed's  bridge  and  develop  the  enemy, 
■which  was  promptly  done,  and  their  advance  was  soon  engaged  at  the 
steam  saw  raiJ-l  near  that  point.  Finding  the  enemy  too  strong  for 
General  Pegrauj's  force,  I  despatched  a  staff  officer  to  Lieutenant 
General  Polk's  quarters  for  General  Armstrong's  division.  lie  could 
only  spare  Dibrell's  brigade,  which  arrived  shortly  after  we  engaged 
the  enemy,  was  speedily  dismounted  and  formed,  and,  with  General 
Pegram's  division,  were  able  to  hold  position  until  infantry  reinforce- 
ments arrived,  the  first  brigade  of  which,  under  Colonel  Wilson, 
formed  on  my  left,  advance<l  in  gallant  style,  driving  the  enemy  back 
and  capturing  a  battery  of  artillery.  My  dismounted  cavalry  advanced 
with  them.  The  su[jerior  force  of  the  enemy  compelled  us  to  give 
back  uncil  reinforced  by  General  Ector's  brigade,  when  the  enemy 
were  again  driven  back.  From  statements  of  prisoners  captured,  the 
enemy's  force  eniraged  was  four  brigades  of  infantry  and  one  of  cav- 
alry. Ijut  when  driven  back  the  second  time,  with  the  loss  of  another 
battery,  their  full  force  was  developed,  and,  being  met  and  overpow- 
ered by  vastly  superior  numbers,  we  were  compelled  to  fall  back  to  our 
first  position.  A  cavalry  charge  was  made  to  protect  the  infantry  as 
they  retired,  which  they  did  in  good  ordt'r,  though  with  loss.  We 
captured  many  prisoners,  but  were  unable,  for  want  of  horses,  to 
br.ng  off  the  guns  captured  from  the  enemy.  Until  the  arrival  of 
Major  General  Walker,  (being  the  senior  officer  present,)  I  assumed  tem- 
porary command  of  the  infantry,  and  I  must  say  that  the  fighting  and 
the  gallant  charges  of  .the  two  brigades  just  referred  to  e.^citnl  my 
astoiiithment.  They  broke  the  enemy's  line,  and  could  not  be  halted 
or  withdrawn  until  nearly  surrounded.  We  fell  back,  fighting  and 
contesting  the  ground,  to  our  original  position,  near  the  mill  on  the 
Reed's  bridge  road.  General  <,'heathani's  division  coming  up  and 
engaging  the  enerny,  drove  them  for  some  distance,  but  was,  in  turn, 
compelled  to  fall  hack.  Seeing  General  Maney's  brigade  hard 
presBed  and  retiring  before  the  enemy,  I  hastened  to  his  relief  with 
Freeman's  battery  of  six  pieces,  dismounting  Colonel  DibVell's  brigade 
to  support  it.  The  comiuct  of  Major  John  K.  ,  'chief  of  artil- 
lery, and  the  officers  and  men  of  this  battery,  on  this  occasion,  de- 
serves special  mention.  They  kept  up  a  constant  and  destructive 
fire  upoii  ttio  enemy  until  they  were  witl.iu  laity  yards  of  the  guns, 
getting  cff  the  tieid  with  all  their  guns,  ii«:>>vh1, standing  the  loss  of 
horses.  Thsv  wuie  gallantly  protected  by  C  lunel  Dibrell  in  retirin,g, 
who  fell  back  with  the  line  of  infantry.  General  Armstrong,  having 
be^n  released  by  General  Polk,  arrived  with  his  brigade  and  took 
coraii  and  of  his  division,  forming  it,  and,  with  Pegram's  division, 
holding  the  road  to  Heed's  bridge,  which  had  been  repaired  during 
the  day. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  fOth,  I  received. orders  to  move  up  and 
keep  in  line  with  General  Breckinridge's  division,  which  I  did,  dis- 
mounting all  of  General  Armstrong's  division,  except  the  first  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  cf  McDonald's  brigade,  holding  General  Pegram's 
division  in  reserve  on  my  right.  The  two  commands  of  General 
Armstrong's  division,  which  ■were  mounted,  took  possession  of  t^ie 


8t 

Lftfiiyette  road,  capturing  the  enemy's  hospitals  ami  quite  a  nnn-.bor  of 
prisoners.  'J  hey  wore  compelled  to  fall  b.uk  as  the  enemy's  reserves, 
nnder  General  (irarger,  advanced  upon  that  rond.  Colonel  Dibrell 
fought  in  front,  with  the  infantry,  during  that  day.  As  General 
Griuigor  appro-.chcd.  hy  shelling  his  command  and  mnmruverincr  his 
troops,  he  was  detained"  nearly  two  hours  ami  prevented  from  joi'ning 
the  main  force  until  hite  in  the  evening,  and  then  at  a  double- 
quick  and  under  a  heavy  fire  from  Freeman's  hittery  and  a  section 
of  Napcileon  guns,  borrowtd  from  General  Breckinridge.  After 
Granger's  column  hinl  vacated  the  road  in  front  of  me,  I  moved  my 
dismounted  men  nipidly  forwnrd  and  took  possession  from  the  Fede- 
ral hospi'.al  to  the  woods  on  the  left,  through  which  the  infantry  wa.' 
fighting  and  advancing.  My  artillery  was  ord -red  forward,  hut,  bo- 
foie  it  could  riaeh  the  woods  and  be  placed  in  por-ition,  a  chariot  was 
made  by  the  enemy,  the  infantry  line  retreating  in  confusion  and 
leaving  me  without  a  support,  hut  held  the  ground  long  enough  to  get 
my  artillery  b.ick  to  th-  pisition  from  which  we  shelled  Granger"? 
column,  and  opened  fire  upm  the  advancing  column  with  fourteen 
pi>'ces  of  artillery,  driving  them  back  and  terminating  on  the  rii'ht 
fliink  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  This  fire  was  at  short  ran"o,"  iu 
Open  ground,  and  was  to  the  enemy  very  destructive,  killinir  two 
colonels  and  many  other  officers  and  privates. 

It  is  with  p'-ide  and  pleasure  that  I  mention  the  gallant  conduct  of 
th"  officers  and  men  of  my  command.  General  Arm.stroi)g'-i  divi^io^ 
fought  almost  entir(dy  on  foot,  always  up  and  fnquently  iu  advance 
of  I  he  infantry.  My  command  was  kept  on  the  field  during  the  ni  'hf 
of  the  2nih,  and  men  and  horses  suffered  greatly  for  want  of  water. 
Th"  men  wore  without  rations  and  the  horses  had  only  received  a  par- 
tial feed  once  during  the  two  days'  engagement. 

Gn  Monday  moining  I  moved  fVrward  on  the  Lafayette  road 
to^^,llds  Chattannog.i,  capturing  many  prisoners  an<l  arms.  The  I.at- 
tCi  were  cdlected  as  far  as  practicable  and  sent  to  the  roar,  usin"  for 
thit  pnvpo.^c  several  wag  ns  and  arahul.inces  captured  from  the  rf.~ 
tr«:<ting  ei.omy  or  abandoned  and  left  by  thcra.  On  taking  possjs- 
»t.  !i  of  Mission  ridge,  one  mile  or  thereabouts  from  llossvillc,  we 
toi.nd  the  enemy  foitifjing  the  gap,  di.Mnouuted  Colonel  Dibrdi'.s 
re-iracnt.  under  command  of  Captain  McGunns,  and  attacked  them, 
In  found  the  force  too  large  to  di-hidge  t'lcm  On  the  arrival  of  my 
ar  illery.  it  opened  on  and  fought  ihera  for  several  hours,  hut  could 
not  move  them.  • 

WehcM  poFsessirn  of  the  ridge  duiing  the  night,  and  on  Tuesday 
moved  down  from  Mission  ridge  into  the  Chattinooga  valley,  driving 
the  enemy  into  the  voods;  and  advancing  on  the  Lafayette  road  be- 
yond Watkins'  farm,  an<i  holding  position  there  until  the  arrival  of 
Kershaw's  brigade.  My  command  was  kept  in  line  of  battle  during 
the  night  at  ^ilrcy's  ford  on  the  Tennessee  river. 

On  Wednesday,  23d,  with  McDonald's  battalion.  I  gained  the  point 
of  Lookout  mountain.     My  troops,  being  gradually  relieved  by  in- 
far  try,  were  ordered  to  the  rear  and  venVinto  camp  at  and  near  Bird'i 
6 


cills,  \>ith  orJers  issued  to  cook  up  rations    and  shoe  the  horses  as 
rapidly  bh  possible. 

Ou  Friday  morning,  the  3.'jth,  I  received  orders  to  move  ^vith  my 
entire  couituiind  to  meet  the  forces  of  Burnsidc  at  or  neiir  llariison, 
'which  order  was  immediately  obeyed.  Having  proceeded  as  far  as 
Chattanooga  station,  a  second  courier  came  up,  with  an  order  to 
proceed  tia  Cleaveland  to  Cliarlcstou  and  disperse  the  enemy  at  that 
place,  and  if  necessary  to  cro.'^^s  the river.  I  reached  Cleave- 
land that  night,  and  went  to  Charleston  the  next  morning;  found  the 
enemy  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  I  moved  up  my  artillery 
and,  after  a  sharp  cannonading,  drove  them  off  and  threw  my  cavalry 
across  the  liver.  Fiom  prisoners  captured,  found  the  foice  opposite 
Charleston  and  retreating  was  a  mounted  brigade  commanded  by  Col- 
onel Byrd.  '  Learning  also  that  Woolford's  Federal  cavalry  was  en- 
camped at  Cedar  Springs,  three  miles  from  Athens,  it  was  deemed 
ncctssary  to  follow,  which  was  done  rapidly,  fighting  them  repeatedly 
Mid  driving  them  before  us.  Their  last  stand  was  made  at  I'hiladel- 
phia,  when  Woolford's  brigade  was  j.'ut  to  flight  by  tho  advance  of 
Armstrong's  division,  under  Colonel  Dibrcil.  Receiving  orders  to 
return  at  once,  1  withdrew  mj'  command  back  to  Charleston,  ordering 
(General  Davidson,  with  his  division,  and  General  Armstrong,  with 
his  brigiide,  to  report  to  General  Wheeler  at  Cotton  Port  ferry.  Our 
loss  in  tlie  exjiedition  to  East  Tennessee  was  four  men  wounded  and 
two  captuied.  We  kiiled  and  wounded  about  twenty  of  the  enemy  and 
aeut  one  hundred  and  twenty  prisoners  to  Dalton. 

In  closing  this  report,  I  desire  to  pay  a  just  tribute  to  my  oflicera  and 
men  for  their  gallantry  and  uncomplaining  endurance  of  all  tho  fa- 
tigues and  dangeiB  incident  to  the  movements  an  J  engagemeuts 
eet  forth  in  this  report.  The  charges  made  by  Armstrong's  division 
(while  fighting  on  foot)  in  the  buttle  of  Chickamauga  wouhl  be  crcd- 
itiible  to  the  best  drilled  infantry.  The  officers  of  my  staflf  have,  as 
on  many  previous  occasions,  discharged  all  duties  with  promptnesi 
and  fidelity. 

I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

N.  B.  FORREST, 
Brigadier  General  cominandivg. 

P.  S. — As  soon  as  official   reports    can    be    obtained  from  General 
Armstrong's  and  General  L^avidson's  divisions  they  will  be  forwarded. 
Oui  losses  cani/ot  at  present  be  estimated. 
Keifcctfully,  &c., 

N.  B.  FORREST. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  JOHN  PEGRAM,  COM 
MANDING  CAVALRY  DIVISION. 

Headquarters  Cavai.rv  Division,      ) 
Near  Cniclcarnaiga  Station,  September  24,  1863.  S 

To  Mnjor  J.  P.  Strange, 
•  A.':^htant  Adjutant  Genera!  Forrest's  Cavalry  Corps : 

Major  :     lu  obedience  to  ordsrs,  I  h»ve  the  honor  to  mike  the  fol- 
lowing report  of  the  recent  combats  of  ray  comraaml  with  the  enemy  ; 

Tho  first  of  these  occurred  near  Gr.iysville,  on  the  1 0th  instant, 
when,  being  out  on  a  reconnoisance  with  the  sixth  Georgia  cavalrv, 
(Colonel  Hart,)  it  was  reported  the  enemy  had  thrown  himself  hetweea- 
Colonel  Scott  and  myself  Deeming  the  opening  of  cummunicatioa 
with  Scott  most  important,  I  ordered  Colonel  Hart  to  charge  the  enemj' 
with  two  companies  of  his  command.  This  he  most  gallantly  did^ 
and  brought  out  fifty-nine  prisoners — being  the  skirmishers  of  Pal- 
mer's division — from  within  sight  of  the  masses  of  the  enemy.  The 
second  engairement  with  the  enemy  was  on  the  12th  instant,  ne.ir 
Lect's  tan-yard,  where  we  fought  for  two  hours  Wilder's  lightning; 
biigide  of  mounted  infantry.  My  force  engaged  in  this  fight  was  the 
sixth  Georgia  Hcd  Rucker's  legion.  It  would  be  impossible  to  pay  too 
high  a  tribute  to  the  daring  gallantry  of  my  small  force  in  this  unequal 
conflict  with  the  picke<l  brigade  of  General  Crittenden's  corps  For 
a  time  the  fight  was  almost  literally  hand  to  hand.  I  was  forced  biclc 
only  about  four  huadred  yards,  which  point  I  held  during  the  night 
My  loss  in  this  fight  was  fifty  killed  and  wounded,  numbering  9om<:  ot 
ray  most  valuable  young  officers.  A  correct  list  of  killed  and  wounded 
will  be  forward .'d.  Our  next  meeting  with  the  foe  was  on  Saturday, 
the  I9ih  instant,  on  the  memorable  field  of  "the  Chickamaug  i." 
Brigadier  General  Davidson,  having  reported  for  duty,  was  assigned  to 
the  C'lininand  of  my  old  brigade.  He  was  ordered  to  take  position 
near  Recil's  "nw  mill.  Before  reaching  it,  he  met  and  drove  before 
him  the  i-nemy's  pjikets,  capturing  some  few  of  them  Some  time 
sfter  this  skiimish.  whilst  fieneral  Forrest  and  I  were  in  front  exara- 
i  ;  t'lr  roadj,  Gc.i.r.il  Duvidson  was  attacked  suddenly  upon  his 
liiirrying  hm-.k.  I  foun<l  it  somewhat  diflicult,  aided  by  General 
Im  II  and  aii  m>  ntfirerH.  to  gt-i  the  coramaml  in  a  proper  position 
■'  pel  the  fiercu  a'lacks  of  the  enemy's  infantry.  All  the  available 
.  :.  I  wa.M  soon,  however,  well  posted,  under  the  general  direction  of 
General  Forrebt.  It  became  at  once  apparent  to  all  that  we  were 
fighing  overpowering  numbers.  (Jeneral  Forrest,  having  sent  seve- 
ml  mecHages  for  the  infantry  to  come  up,  finally  went  for  them  him- 
•elf,  oidering  me  hold  the  position  until  thpir  arrival.  In  obeyiog 
this  order,  our  loss  was  about  one-fourth  of  the  command,  including 
several  officers.  Nearly  every  colonel  of  the  briga<le  had  a  horse  shot 
under  iiim.  Although  the  highest  jiraise  is  due  to  all  the  gallant  men 
pogagcd  in  this  (for  cavalry)  remarkable  fight,  I  jaui>t  not  omit  men- 


84 

tioning  particularly  Colonel  Goodc,  of  (be  tenth  Confederate  civalry, 
■whope  horee  was  shot,  and  Captain  Arnold,  sixteenth  battalion  Ten- 
neesee  cavalry,  wiio  wag  h:ully  ■wounded.  Our  next  engagement  with 
the  enemy  was  (""olonel  Mintys  brigade  mounted  infantrr.  being 
a  part  of  the  rear-guard  of  Genoral  noaencraiiz's  army.  Afterdriving 
bis  f-kirraiBhers  for  more  than  a  mile,  we  found  him  strongly  posted 
on  JliBBionary  ridge.  We  drove  him  from  one  fine  position,  but  were 
nnable  to  dialodge  him  fiom  the  summit ;  from  which,  however,  he 
retired  during  the  night.  In  holding  the  ground  gaini  d,  my  command 
was  fuhjfcted  to  a  heavy  fire  of  canister  at  three  hundred  yards  range. 
Both  Gcnrral  Davidson  and  Colonel  ?cott  lost  several  men,  amonj; 
whom,  1  regret  to  say,  was  the  gallant  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fain,  of  the 
si.xth  (aeorgia,  badly  wout.ded.  The  steadfastness  with  which  both 
brigades  bore  this  artillery  fire  wa-s  admirable  in  the  extreme,  espe- 
cially as  evincing  the  di'-cipline  of  the  men.  Ceneral  Davidson  again 
met  the  enemy  on  the  '22d.  on  the  Chattanooga  and  Harrison  road. 
With  a  part  of  his  brigade  he  attacked  and  routed  the  fifty-ninth  Ohio 
infantry,  took  a  number  of  prisoners,  arms,  &-.,  and  .was  prevented 
from  capturing  the  brigade  entire  only  by  a  mistake  of  cne  of  hia  own 
regiments,  wliich  fired  upon  the  portion  headed  by  himself. 

It  will  be  observed  that  my  report  is  confined  to  the  operations  of 
the  brigade  lately  comrannded  by  myself.  This  i^  because  the  other 
brigades  of  the  division  have,  in  the  exigencies  of  thi>  .service,  been 
separated  from  me.  For  Colonel  Scott's  operation.^,  I  refer  you  to 
his  report,  herewith  enclo,=ed. 

1  am,  Major,  very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

.JOHN  FKGHAM. 
Bri^ndkr  Gmtrol  coynmanding  lyivision  Cavalry. 

N.  E. —General  Davidson  will  furnish  you,  at  the  earliest  oppor- 
taiiitj,  with  a  complete  list  of  the  casualties  and  captured   property. 
Respectfully,  kc, 

JOHN  PEGRAM, 
Brigadier  G'Tural. 


RErORT   OF   COLONEL  J.  L.    SCOTT,  COMMANDING 
CAVALRY  BRIGADE. 


HEADQUtRTER!;    ScoTt'b    CaVAI.KT    BrigADE,  > 

Chukamauga,  September  21,  1363.      \ 

Mrjor  A.  R   II.  Ransom, 

A.  A   A.  G.  Pegram'x  Division  of  Cavalry: 

Major  :  In  accordance  with  orders  from  Brigadier  General  Pegram, 
I  herewith  forward  mj  report  of  the  operations  of  this  brigade  during 
the  recent  active  operations  of  this  army  :  After  covering  the 
evocuation  of  East  Tennes«ee,  and  removing  all  stores  on  the  lines  of 
railroad  as  far  as  Ringgold,  Georgia,  I  reported  to  General  Pegram, 
en  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road.  On  the  Ilth  instant, 
under  order*  from  General  Forrest,  I  proceeded  to  Ringgold,  where 
I  encountered  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  General  Crittenden's  corps, 
and,  after  a  .vharp  skirmish,  fell  back  towards  Daltcn,  to  a  strong  posi- 
tion, which  1  held  for  two  hours.  Forced  from  it,  I  retreated  slowly 
on  to  Tunnel  hill,  lighting  the  enemy  at  every  available  point  until 
night,  when  re-inforcemcnts  from  the  command  of  General  Forrest, 
who  had  been  present  during  the  day  directing  the  movements,  ar- 
rived. The  next  morning  the  enemy  retired,  and,  following  them,  I 
skirmished  heavily  with  their  rear,  on  the  12th  and  Kith  instants,  as 
far  as  the  Lafayette  road,  near  Leet's  tan-yard. 

On  the  lUh,  under  orders  from  General  Forrest,  I  returned  to 
Ringgold,  and  remained  near  that  place  until  the  evening  of  the  17th 
instant,  when  the  enemy  again  advanced  upon  RinggoM  from  tho  di- 
rection of  Gray»vilie.  I  marched  out  to  meet  thejn  and  drove  them 
back.  That  mght  the  enemy  encamped  about  five  miles  from  Ring- 
gold, on  the  Chattanooga  road,  with  four  regiments  of  infantry,  one 
.  of  cavalry,  and  a  battery.  About  midnight,  with  four  companies  of 
the  second  Tennessee  cavalry  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  I  surprised 
their  camp,  throwing  the  whole  force  into  confuhion.  After  a  sharp 
fight,  I  retired  to  my  camp  at  Ringgold,  the  enemy  not  following. 

On  the  I5th,  by  command  of  General  Pegrim,  I  proceeded  to  Red 
hou^e,  nine  miles  from  Chattanooga,  and  drove  in  the  advance  of  the 
eneiny''s  reserve  corps  ntider  General  Grsngcr.  On  the  I9lh  I 
m.irchcd  and  engigod  the  enemy,  seven  regimi-nt.s  of  infantry  and  a 
taltery,  with  two  hundred  men  from  ray  command,  composed  of  the 
•econd  and  fifth  Tennessee,  first  Louisiana,  tho  detachment  of  Mor- 
gan's command,  and  the  Louisiana  battery  of  two  rifle  pieces  and  two 
mountain  howitzers.  After  a  fierce  engagement  of  several  hoars, 
daring  which  I  drove  the  enemy  more  than  two  miles  and  disabled 
one  of  their  guns,  my  aromuniliun  failing,  I  withdrew  to  my  camp  at 
the  creek,  the  enemy  too  ranch  exhausted  to  [.nrsue.  On  the  81st.  I 
^"'1  th'j  left  of  the  road  in  General  I'egram's  attijck  upon  Mi'sionary 
ami  on  the  2il,  under  orders  from  Major  General  Chpathnro.  I 
;     cce-led  on    his   right,  and,  crossing    Missionary  ride,  desoended  lo 


t> 


86 


the  vsllej  to  the  Western  and  Atlanlic  railroad,  about  three  miles 
^rom  Chattanooga.  Uere  I  encountered  the  fifty-ninth  Ohio  infantry, 
and  drove  tLem,  in  confusion,  into  Chattanooga.  Following  up,  I  at- 
tacked the  enemy  in  hie  entrenehments,  and  drove  thera  from  their  first 
lino  of  rifle-pits.  Kifiht  coming  on,  General  Pegram  ordered  me  to 
withdraw  my  command  to  the  top  of  the  ridge,  and  on  the  next  morn- 
ing to  this  place. 

It  is  impossible  to  state  the  loss  of  the  enemy,  but,  from  all  informa- 
tion obtained,  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  on  the  19th  amounted 
to  over  one  hundred,  besides  one  of  (lencral  Whitaker's  staflf  officers 
and  seven  privates  prisoners.  My  entire  prisoners  amount  to  tour 
commissioned  oflicers  and  thirty  privates.  On  the  22d  I  captured 
about  seventy-five  fine  rifles  for  my  unarmed  men. 

My  own  loss  foots  up  as  follows :  In  the  second  Tennessee — Killed  : 
officers,  two  ;  privates,  three.  Wounded:  otiicers,  one  ;  men,  thirteen. 
In  the  fifth  Tennessee  cavalry — Killed  ;  men,  two.  Wounded  :  officers, 
two;  private.^,  twelve.  In  the  detachment  of  General  Morgan's  com- 
mand— Killed:  three  men.  Wounded:  officers,  one :  men,  six.  In  the 
first  Louisiana,  one  man  wounded;  and  in  the  Louisiana  battery,  three 
men  wounded  and  fifteen  horses  killed.  Total  killed,  two  officers  and 
eight  men.  Wounded:  officers,  four;  men,  thirty-five.  Total  loss, 
forty-nine. 

Of  the  conduct  of  both  oflicers'  and  men  I  cannot  Sf  eak  too  highly. 
All  displayed  the  utmost  bravery  and  gallantry.  When  every  one 
did  80  well,  it  is  impossible  to  particularize  individual  instances  of 
gallantry,  but  in  the  death  of  Captain  Ford  and  Lieutenant  Crozier, 
second  Tennessee  cavalry,  I  have  lost  two  brave  and  gallant  officers, 
whose  places  it  will  be  most  ditilcult  to  fill. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  L.  SCOTT, 
Colonel  commanding  Brigoile  of  Cavalry. 


REPORT  UF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  B.  R.  JOHNSON,  COM- 
MANDING   DIVISION. 

IIf.adqvarters  Chattanooga,  Oct    2-1,  18G3. 

Major  W.  Scr.LKKP, 

Asivtlant  Adjutant  General: 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  sabmit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
t&ken  by  the  division  under  Joy  command  in  the  action  of  the  Chicka- 
maiiga  : 

At  five  o'clock,  A  M.,  September  ISth,  1SG3,  four  brigades  and 
three  batteries  of  artillery  from  Catoosa  station,  and  vicinity  of  Ring- 
gold, Georgia,  rncvcd,  under  Oiy  command,  with  orders  from  head- 
quarters army  of  Tennessee,  to  proceed  via  Pleasant  Grovo  church 
to  Lect's  tin-yard.  Law's  brigade,  under  Colonel  Shetlield,  not  hav- 
ing cooked  its  rations,  was  ordered  to  do  so,  and  f >]Iow  as  promptly 
as  possible.  Benning's  brigade  was  left,  in  compliance  with  orders, 
to  guard  the  depot  at  Ringgold.  My  command  then  consisted  of  the 
following  brigades,  vhich  moved  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  named, 
•viz:  Johnson's,  McNair";-,  Gregg's  and  Robertson's,  with  batteries, 
Everett's,  Culpcper's  and  Bledsoe's,  in  the  contre,  and  trains  in  rear 
of  their  respective  brigades.  The  head  of  the  column  had  not  pro- 
ceeded more  than  three  miles  on  the  road  when  a  despatch  was  re- 
ceivei  from  Colonel  Brent,  headquarters  army  of  Tennessee,  direct- 
ing mo,  with  the  forces  under  my  command,  to  retrace  my  steps  to 
the  vicinity  of  Ringgold,  and  there  to  tike  the  direct  road  to  Reed's 
bridge  and  to  raake  a  l.idgmcnt  on  the  we.st  bank  of  the  Chickamauga, 
Forrest's  cavalry  covering  the  front  and  right  Hanks  of  ray  column 
on  the  march  from  Ringgold.  The  command  was  promptly  put  on  the 
now  line  of  march,  and  soon  after  I  received  orders  and  the  plan  of 
operations,  by  which  I  was  directed,  as  commander  of  the  right  col- 
umn of  the  army  of  Tennessee,  to  attack  the  enemy  in  my  front,  in 
whatever  force  I  might  fiml  them,  and,  after  crosfing  Reed's  bridge, 
to  turn  to  the  left  by  the  most  practicable  route  and  sweep  up  tha 
Chickamauga.  towards  Lee  fc  Gordon's  mill,  while  M  vjor  General? 
Walker  and  Buckner,  ciossing  at  .Vlexindcr's  bridge  and  Ledford's 
ford,  were  directed  to  join  in  my  movement.  The  orders  and  plans 
of  operations  indicated  that  the  :.ttaok  on  the  enemy's  left  wing  wai 
expected  to  be  initiated  by  the  column  under  my  command. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  in  compliance  with  orders  previously 
received,  I  halted  the  column  near  Kuler's  mill,  on  the  Graysville  and 
Lafayette  road,  four  and  a  half  miles  from  the  former  place.  Cap- 
|tain  Thorap»on,  nssi.^tant  chief  of  artillery  of  General  Bragg'g  staflf, 
Ireporied  to  nie  at  this  point,  with  orders  to  move  forward  immediately, 
[»nd  through  hira  my  arrival  and  the  hour  thereof  was  reported  to 
leadquarters  army  of  Tennessee. 
Being  informed  by  citizens  that  the  enemy  were  about  one  mile  in 
[•dranee,  I  formed  a  line  of  battle  along  the  road — McNair's.  Johnson'* 


83 

au'i  Gregg'j- brigaJeB  ill  front,  butteries  in  position,  and  Robeitson's  bri- 
gade in  reserve.  While  fr>raiiiip  the  litie,  Brigadier  General  Forrest 
Joined  me  with  his  escort,  and  piocceded  to  the  front  to  develop  the 
position  of  the  enemy,  and  was  "joon  Rkirmisl.iiig  with  'hem.  Just  an 
iiiy  Une  was  formed,  Maj«.r  Robertson  i-anie  up  fioui  ihe  difction  of 
Liifayette  and  reported  to  me,  wiili  eight  pieces  of  artillery.  My 
lino  of  Bkirmishers  in  front  was  now  promptly  advanced  t(>  Poavine 
creek,  wiiich  offered  some  obFtructious  to  regular  movements,  and 
caused  some  delay  in  cro8si:ig  the  troops.  Captain  McDonald,  of  the 
seventeenth  Tennessee  regiment,  opened  fire  vyith  his  comp;iny  upon 
the  enemy's  pickets,  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  yards  west  of 
the  creek,  and  r»"pul.'^ed  a  charge  of  thiMr  reserve,  which  was  made 
down  the  road  to  the  creek.  Major  Iloberl.-'on  placed  some  four  piece* 
of  artillery  from  his  own  command  and  a  section  of  Everett's  bat- 
tery in  posi'ion,  and  opcnc'd  upon  tj)e  enemy,  part  of  whom  were 
disniouDted,  driving  them  back,  witli  a  section  of  artillery,  which 
they  had  ported  in  good  position.  As  soon  as  the  command  could 
cross  the  creek,  tlio  line,  preserviiig  its  formation,  with  Robertson's 
brigade  supporting,  McNair's  on  the  right,  was  prcs>ed  forward  to 
the  tap  of  the  hill,  dislodging  the  enemy  fiom  a  second  position. 
The  cavalry,  on  the  right,  krpr  up  the  skinlli.^h'.ng  during  the  ascent. 
We  found  ju  front  of  the  seventeentli  Tennessee  regiment  three  Yan- 
kees killed  and  one  niortally  wo'.inded.  It  was  now  ascertained  that 
the  enemy's  force  consisted  of  three  or  four  regiments  of  mounted 
aiCn.  I're.-.'-ing  down  the  western  declivity  of  this  hill,  the  enemy 
jvere  again  found  in  position  at  Reed's  bridge,  over  which  thgy  had 
pas.'^ed. 

The  ikinuishors  of  the  twenlj-ihiid  Tennessee  rcginieiit  becoming 
etigaged,  the  whole  regiment,  supported  by  the  biigade.  charged,  with 
a  shout  and  run,  and  drove  ofl"  the  Yankees  before  ihey  could  destroy 
the  bridge.  The  tv.-enty-tliird  Tentessee  re^imcpt  here  had  five  m>.u 
wounded.  After  our  .-kirmi.-^hers  and  some  of  the  regiments  hod 
passed,  the  enemy  opened  a  battery  on  the  bridge,"  which  was  silenced 
by  a  section  of  Bledsoe's  artillery. 

Lieutenant  Hastings,  of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee  regiment,  was 
v.ounded  at  ihe  bridge  by  the  enemy's  artillery. 

My  comr.iand  comincnced  crossing  the  Chiekrvmauga  about  three 
o'clock,  P.  M.  Major  General  Hood  having  appeared  lu  the  column, 
I  reported  to  him,  and  submitted  to  him  nn-  otderf:  just  before  passing 
<;he  bridge,  in  persnn.  Having  crossed  the  Ciiickauiauga,  partly  by 
•be  bridge  and  partly  by  the  fuid  ahove  the  bridge,  by  four  o'clock, 
v.  M.,  the  command  advanced  to  Jay's  steam  haw  mill,  about  one  mile 
west  of  Reed's  bridge,  where  llieie  are  two  roads  leading  to  Ale.\an- 
dei's  bridge..  I  ordered  the  formation  to  be  preserved,  and  the  Hue 
of  battle,  extending  across  the  right  hand  or  western  road,  to  move 
forward. 

General  Hood,  however,  here  took  command,  and  directed  one  regi- 
.Tient  of  Gregg's  brigade  to  be  marched  in  line  of  battle,  extending 
across  the  le!t  hand  or  eastern  road,  the  other  regiments  of  the  com- 
mand to  bo  ir.oveii  in  the  rear  along  that  road  in  column  of  companies. 


89 

Marching  in  this  oiJer,  we  proeeedtd  rapidly-  j,ast  a  hurninj;;  house 
near  Alexander's  ford,  penetrating  between  il:e  eneni  v  and  \iie  C'bicka- 
Diauga  to  a  point  nearly  opposite  their  cciilre,  abcut.  iv. o  niiles  and  » 
half  fioni  ihe  steam  saw  aiill  and  alout  one  mile  west  of  Dalton's 
ford,  when,  in  the  daikncp?  of  the  evening,  the  skirmishers  at  the  head 
of  the  column  btcame  engaged,  and  GrcggV  biigadc  was  immediately  de- 
ployed under  a  sharp  fire,  which  wuuiided  three  men,  one  (fir!>t  sergeant 
of  CDUjpany  D,  seventh  Texas  rogimtnt)  mortally.  McNair's  and 
ilohnfon'e  brigades  were  immediately  deployed,  facing  Bouthwest,  and 
supporting  Gregg's  brigade.  Robertson's  brigade  formed  a  line  near 
the  wagon  train  in  rear,  facing  northwest,  while  the  forty- fourth  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  of  Johnson's  brigade,  remained  as  rear-guard  of  the 
train.  Our  fiont  line  was  now  'about  eight  hundred  yards  from  Vin- 
yard's  houvc,  on  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  Lee  A,  Govdon's  mill. 
The  whole  Yankee  army  was  in  our  front — mainly  at  Lee  &  Gordon's 
mill — on  our  right  flank  and  rear  ,  while  our  army  was  still  on  the 
e*st  side  of  the  (^Jhickom^iugn.  Mj  command  was  the  first  to  cross 
this  stream,  and  none  of  our  troops  crossed  at  any  point  until  our 
column  had  swept  the  west  bank  in  front  of  iLeir  respective  places  of 
crossing.  One-third  of  our  forces  was  required  to  remain  awake  dur- 
ing the  uigiit,  and  ihe  rest  slept  up'in  thoir  arms. 

Obstructions  to  cavalry  were  hastily  platcii  in  out  fro:it,  skirmishers 
were  thrown  out  to  the  held  east  of  Yinyaid's  housi-,  one  hundred  and 
filly  yards  in  front  of  our  left  flank,  and  scouts  wert  sent  out  nearly 
to  the  road  to  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill 

t^eptcmber  19ih,  IbOS.  On  making  an  cxaminatiuii  of  our  p'-sition, 

early  in  the  morning,  I  discoverod  th.il  our  skirmishers    were    withiti 

.f  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  Gcnerul  Preston's  division,  which  had 

■*sed  the  Chickaraauga  at  Gallon's  ford  du.-ing  the  night,  thnt  our 

■  was  in  front  and  nearly   perpcn<licaLir  to   his,  and    that    laost  of 

I  army  hail  crossed  at  points  lower  do'nn,  placiig  our  olumu  near 

••  left  of  our  array.     Miijor  Kobcrtsoii,  with  his  eight  pieces  of  artil- 

i'-ry,  was  now  detached  from  my  command,  and    Robertson's  brigade 

»  IS  united  with  the  other  brigades  of  lljnd's  division,  under  Briga- 

r  General  Law,  which  had  come  up  during  the  night,  leaving  three 

^id<'3  under  my  command  ;  These  two  divisiotis  were  placed  under 

command  of  Major  General  Hood. 

''or  line  of  battle    was   formed   about   seven   o'clock,  A.  M.,  in  » 

vc  around  the  crest  of  an  elevjtion  in  the  wood.'^.  about  one  thon- 

-i  I  yards  east  of  the    Chattanooga  ^nd    Lee  &  Goidoii's   null    road. 

right  briga^le  faced  neai  ly  west  and  iny  left  bi  igade  about  southwest. 

iny  division,  Johnson's  brigade,   commanded    by    Colonel   John  S. 

lion,  of  the  forty- fourth   Teniiesf-ee   regiment,  was   placed    on   the 

_iit,  Gregg's  brigade  ou  the  left,  :in<l  Mi-N*ir's  brigade  in  reserve,  io 

.;  of  Gregg's  brigade.      Everett's  battery  W3t<  posted  in  position  on 

right  <)f  Johnson's  b.igade,  arid  i'ded-oe's    first    Mis.-ouii    battery 

ihe^ right  of   Gregg's   brigade.     Captain    Cul|;(pcr's   three   gon» 

rs  held  in  reserve    in    rear   of  ^5cN«ir'«   brigude..     Law's   division 

-  posted  on  my  right  and  I'rcstou's  on  nij'   kit,  a  little   retired,  so 

tt  the  left  of  the  bltieth  TcDnesace  regiment,  on  the  left  of  Gregg'i 


90 

brigade,  was  thrown  back  witli  a  view  to  form  a  connection  wbicb  WM 
never  regularly  tna<le.  The  fighting  ccnitnenced  on  the  right  of  onr 
army,  about  half  a  mile  northwest  (T  the. burnt  house,  near  Alexander's 
bii'lge.      The  first  gun  was  fired  at  half  past  seven,  A.  M. 

Ahout  two  oVliifk,  P.  M.,  the  eneir.y  in  tny  front  advanced  and 
drove  in  my  skiniiishers.  1  ordered  Bledsoe's  and  Everett's  baUeriet 
to  open  fire,  and  Culpeper'.i  battery  was  brought  into  action  on  the 
left  of  Gi egg's  Lrigade.  Tliese  guna  all  fired  in  a  direction  bearing 
towardB  Vinyard'H  boufe,  frtni  which  direction  the  attack  seemed 
mainly  to  come.  The  right  of  Gregg's  and  the  left  of  Johnson's  brig- 
«de8  repulfed  the  attack  in  that  vicinity,  but  the  engagement  still 
continued  on  the  left  of  Gregg's  brigade,  where  the  left  regiments 
\rere  suiroring  severely.  The  fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment  lost  twelve 
killed  and  forty-five  wounded  before  it  moved  from  its  position.  About 
half-past  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  by  direction  of  Major  General  Hood, 
having  instructed  vay  artillery  to  move  with  the  infantry  and  to  come 
into  action  whenever  opportunity  permitted,  particularly  cautioned 
my  conjmand  to  preserve  its  ccnnecuoiis,  to  wheel  slowlv  and  to  touch 
to  the  right,  1  ordered  the  division  to  advance  and  engage  the  enemy. 
This  movement  did  not  extend  to  the  division  on  my  left.  In  front 
of  Gregg's  brigade  the  woods  presented  a  thick  undergrowth,  in  which 
that  brigade  at  once  becoming  holly  engaged,  its  piogress  was  im- 
peded, while  Johnson's  brigade  advanced  some  six  hundred  yards  be- 
fore the  enemy  opened  fire  u])r.n  it.  The  artillery  advanced  and  fired 
by  sectir.n,  keeping  well  up  with  the  infantry,  (ire^'g's  brigade  ad- 
vanced some  three  hundred  yards,  obli<juing  in  endeavoring,  under 
fire,  to  keep  the  connection  to  the  right.  The  connection,  however, 
was  broken  in  the  thick  wcods,  between  the  second  and  third  battalion.-, 
the  two  right  regiments  preserving  their  connection  with  the  line  ci, 
their  right,  and  wheeling  with  it  to  the  right,  the  third  ami  four' 
regiments,  advancing  less  obliijuely,  faced  more  to  the  south,  whiP 
the  left  regiment  of  that  brigade,  the  fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment, 
under  Colonel  Suggs,  moved  more  directly  to  its  front,  which  was  in  n 
Bouthern  direction,  owing  to  the  left  having  been  thrown  back  to  con- 
nect with  Preston's  division,  and  at  the  same  time  it  stretched  out  to 
the  right,  just  north  of  Vinyard's  fields,  to  cover  the  increasing  inter- 
val, until  ncnrly  the  whole  regiment  was  deployed  in  open  order  as 
skirmit^hers.  'J'his  movement  of  the  fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment  was 
induced  by  the  heavy  attack  of  the  enemy  on  that  flank,  but  it  did  not 
eucceed  in  preserving  the  connection  and  it  became  separated  fr;m 
the  brigade..  In  this  condition,  the  brigade  fought  gallantly  and  kept 
up  a  heavy  fire  all  along  its  broken  line  and  infiicted  heavy  losses  on 
the  enemy. 

Two  regiments  of  McNair's  brigade,  the  thirty-ninth  North  Caro- 
lina regiment,  under  Colonel  Coleman,  and  the  twentj'-fifth  Arkansas 
^egim^■nt,  umlor  Ijieutenant  Colonel  llupstalder,  were  sent  forward 
between  the  fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment  and  the  brigade  to -which  it 
belongs.  These  two  regiments  came  up  to  the  left,  cf  the,  seventh 
Texas  regiment,,  of  Gregg's  brigade,  about  four  hundred  yards  in 
front  of  the  position  from   which   my   line  had  moved,  and  advanced 


91 

gallantly  to  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  Lee  &  tiotdon's  mill, 
north  of  Vinyard's  farm,  and  left  still  a  wide  interval  on  the  ripht  of 
the  fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment,  which  regiment  continued  to  present 
an  extended  line  jind  to  fight  gallantly  atid  persistently  the  heavy 
forces  in  front,  while  its  raiik<<  were  lieing  coritiniially  thinned  It 
Till  be  seen  hy  the  report  of  Colonel  Coleman,  of  the  thirty-ninth 
North  Carolina  regiment,  forwarded  herewith,  that  the  two  regiraenw 
from  Gregg's  biigade  drove  the  enemy  in  rapid  flight,  across  the  Chat- 
tanooga road,  and  passed  a  small  house  in  a  corn-field  west  of  the 
road,  and  north  of  Vinyard's  house  ;  and  that  here,  though  the  enemy 
in  their  front  were  in  flight  and  broken,  those  regiments  fell  hack  for 
wiint  of  FUf  port,  and  on  account  ^if  rcinforcemeut  received  hy  the 
enemy,  and  a  fiimk  fire  on  the  left. 

In  the  meantime,  the  brigade  of  Brigadier  General  Robertson,  of 
Hood's  division,  was  brought  up  and  advanced  on  the  right  of  the 
fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment,  which  now  contracted  its  line  and  con- 
centrated its  fire  upon  the  enemy  on  the  left  in  the  vicinity  of 
Vinyard's.  Under  the  spirited  charge  an{I  heavy  fiie  of  Robertson's 
brigade,  the  enemy  were  driven  back  some  distance.  The  operations 
of  the  brigade  will  be  more  propeily  reported  by  its  division  coni- 
tnander.  It  will,  however,  be  proper  for  roe  to  state  that,  during  s 
bah,  before  Robertson's  brigade  readied  the  Chaltani  oga  road.  Brig- 
•  liirr  General  Gregg  rode  out  in  front  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  po- 
fHion.  He  very  soon  found  himfclf  near  the  enemy's  line,  and  was 
Buddcnly  balled  by  the  Yankee  skirmishers.  Turning  his  horse  to 
tide  back  to  the  rear,  he  was  shot  through  the  neck.  Having  fallen 
!  from  his  hcrse,  the  Yankees  proceeded  to  take  from  his  person  his 
«pnrs  and  eword,  when  Robertson's  brigade  charged  forward  and  re- 
covered possession  of  him  and  his  horse. 

Brigadier  General  Gregg  deserves  special  crimmendation  for  his 
gallantry  and  activity  on  the  field.  The  brigade  which  he  commanded 
is  an  excellent  one,  and  is  commanded  by  a  worthy  and  able  officer. 
Colonel  Suggs,  of  the  fiftieth  Tenncspce  regiment,  also  merits  par- 
ticular notice  for  the  manner  in  which  he  from  time  to  time  disposed 
Ills  rpgimc nt  and  protected  our  flank,  which  was  necessarily  exposed 
in  cor  advance,  as  the  movement  did  not  extend  to  the  division  on 
our  left.  While  these  operations  weie  going  on  in  my  left  brigade, 
the  right  one,  Johnson's,  with  which  the  forty-firet  Tennes«ee  regi- 
ment, under  l^ient'-nant  Colonel  James  I)  Tillman,  and  the  third  Ten-* 
nesjte  rrgiment,  under  Colonel  C.  II.  Walker,  of  Gregg's  brigade, 
•  preserved  their  connection,  having  advanced  some  six  hundred 
.  jards,  received  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  inTintry  and  b«- 
,  ^ame  hotly  engaged.  The  enemy  were  posted  upon  rising  ground. 
A  battery  swept  our  ranks  with  grape-shot,  while  their  infantry  de- 
livered heavy  volleya  from  email  arms.  The  contest  continued  here 
nearly  an  hour,  when  the  enemy,  after  a  stubborn  resistance,  gradu- 
ally retired  to  an  open  woods,  beyond  the  roinl  from  Chattanooga  to 
Lre  &  Gordon's  mill  ;  approaclnng  the  road,  a  part  of  the  brigade 
halted  and  poured  its  fire  into  the  enemy's  riinks,  now  in  full  view, 
two  hundred  jards  in  front ;  again  advanced,  crossed  the  road,  gained 


92 

the  cover  of  the  wooiU  on  the  left  of  the  field  in  which  the  enemy's 
battery  was  posted,  a  cleaiirg,  with  enclosure  intervening.  The 
twenty  fifili  Tennessee  regiment,  under  l.ieut.  Colonel  R.  D.  >SnowdeD, 
aiid  part  ul  tiie  tivcnty-lhitd  Tennessee  regiment  now  wheeled  to  th« 
right,  moved  on  the  flank  of  the  battery,  (ZHinid  the  cover  of  a  fence 
north  of  the  clearing:,  poured  into  it  a  few  voliiis,  charged  and  cap- 
tured the  battery.  This  was  well  atid  giillantly  done,  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  iSnowden,  with  the  olRoeri;;  and  men  under  his  command,  de- 
serve especial  consideration  for  the  manner  in  Avhich  the  raovement 
was  acconipli.shed.  'i'iie  rrniaimler  of  the  brigade,  save  about  one- 
third  cf  the  right  legiment,  now  crossed  the  road.  Thc'vscvonteenth 
Tennt;•^^ce,  the  left  regiment,  had  moved  about  two  hundred  yards  be- 
yond it,  and  tile  third  and  forty-first  Tennessee  regiments  of  Gregg'i 
hi igade,  which  had  continued  to  move  with  J  ihnson'e  brigade,  had 
advanced  (^omewhat  farther,  when  the -enemy,  marching  by  the  flank, 
suddenly  appeared  on  the  left  and  rei>r  of  the  last  two  regiments. 
Colonel  Walker,  of  the  third  Tennessee  regiment,  on  discovering 
this  movement,  faced  his  regiment  by  the  rear  rank  and  moved  back 
acioss  the  road,  while  Colonel  Tilhnau  hastened  to  communicate  the 
knowledge  of  tj;c  movement  to  Colonel  Fulton,  coranramiing  Johnson's 
brigade.  The  movement  of  the  enemy  do«n  the  Chatt.incoga  road 
was  so  prompt,  that  they  penetrated  our  line  on  the  left  of  Johnson's 
1, rigade,  filed  ofl"  to  the  lei't  ;aid  fired  a  volley  into  it-s  rear.  This  bri- 
gade now  moved  by  one  impulse  to  the. right  and  fell  back  to  tlie  cast 
of  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill,  leaving  eleve|> 
officerH,  (including  Major  l.)avi.j,  of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee  regi- 
ment,) si.Tty  men,  and  the  captuied  bittcrj,  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  In  the  meantime  the  third  and  fori;; -hrst  regiments  Tennes- 
see volunteers,  which  were  falling  to  the  rear,  were  placed  in  }iosition 
by  Captain  \V.  T.  Blakemoro,  my  aid-de-caraj),  who  was  on  duty  in 
that  part  of  the  field  and  discovered  this  movomeut  of  the  enemy, 
tind,  hy  his  instruction,  charged  the  column  which  had  so  suddenly 
appeared  in  our  rear  and  drove  it  back.     Colonel  Walker  now  placed 


these  regini?nts  diagonally  across  the  road,  the  right  advanced,  facing 
tho  epeiiiy,  in  wliii.li  position  I  ordered  hiin  to  remain  for  a  time.  I 
have  no  doubt  that  we  have  cncouiiteied  a  pot  nun  of  McCcok's  corps 
of  the  Federal  army,  moving  to  support  their  left.  Our  scouts  thrown 
out  in  front  of  our  tikiimishers,  and  my  brigiile  inspector.  Lieutenant 
Black,  after  a  personal  reconnosisance,  had  previously  reported  tlio 
enemy  moving  artillery  and  infantry  in  that  iliroction.  \Vith  the 
heavy  force  of  the  enemy  still  in  vicinity  of  Lee  I'c  Gordon's  mill  and 
this  advance  of  my  division,  unsupported  by  any  movement  on  my  K-f'., 
was  pu.-^hcd  quite  a.s  far  as  was  judicious. 

Finding  my  line  now,  about  sun.^et,  quite  irregular  in  its  forma- 
tion, 1  jiroceeded  immediately  to  reform  it,  in  tho  woods,  about  six 
bundrifi  yards  east  of  the  road  from  Chattanooga  to  Lee  &  Goi don's 
mill,  when,  by  order  of  Mijor  General  Ilood,  temporary  breastworks 
of  timber  were  put  up  along  the  line,  behind  which  my  command 
rested  during  the  night,  with  skirmishers  thrown  out  to  tho  road. 
During  this  brief  engagement,   the    lohs   of    tho    division    was    quite 


JXe^t 


H^ 


93 

heavy  The  thirJ  Tennessee  regiment  reports  twelve  noen  killod  and 
forty-five  wouniied  before  it  ivas  ordered  to  advance.  The  seventh 
Texas  regiment  hnd  severs!  killed  and  wounded  at  the  same  time. 
Lieutenant  f'olonel  Thomas  VV.  Bcajimont.  well  and  honoratilv  known 
in  civil  as  well  as  military  life.  Captiin  Williams  and  twn  other  com- 
pany othcers  of  the  fiftieth  Tennesi'ce  reaimotit  were  killeil,  seven 
officers  wounded  and  one  missing,  ■whilo  it  lost  heavily  in  men.  The 
forty-f'Mirth  Tennessee  regiment  h.id  Lieutenant  ('olonel  John  L. 
McEwing.  Jr  ,  commanding,  a  gulhnt  and  ahle  officer,  who  has  ren- 
dereil  faithful  and  effici"nt  eervic*  in  our  army,  and  five  cnmp-iny 
officers  wounded,  one  (Captain  Samuel  Jackson)  mortally.  It,  lost 
shout  fifty  men  wounded  and  six  killed,  on^of  whom  ^^Sori^oant  T.  A. 
Johnson)  was  particularly  riistinguished  for  giUantry.  Thecoinin  iiid 
of  this  regimen;  now  devolved  upon  Maj>r  G  M.  Crawford  The 
eeventcenfh  Tennessee  rogiment  had  one  officer  killed  and  two  oflljers 
end  twen'y  men  wonndfd  Colonel  N  1?  (Jranhury,  of  the  seventh 
Texas,  Major  8.  H.  Colmes,  of  the  first  Tennessee  battalion,  and 
Mnj.ir  Lowe,  of  the  twen'y-third  Tviiiiesseo  regiment,  were  severely 
■wounded.  The  twenty-third  Tennessee  lo^t.  in  all.  one  ofli'ior  iuid 
five  men  killed,  five  officers  wouniled.  and  fifty-eight  raon  wounded 
and  captured.  The  losses  of  the  other  regiments  are  not  reported  in 
this  connection.  Captain  J.ickson,  of  the  forty-fourth  Tennessee 
regiment,  has  since  died  of  his  wounds.  Known  to  me  long  and  fa- 
miliarly in  youth  and  manhood  as  Capt-iin  Sumuvl  Jacksin  has  bien, 
I  feel  unable  to  do  justice  to  his  many  virui  's.  his  pure  and  admira- 
ble character,  or  his  merits  r.s  an  officer  and  soldier. 

On  Sunday,  September  2ilth,  18  i3,  my  line  was  formed  by  seven 
©'clock,  A.  M.,  with  .NIcNair's  biigaiieon  the  right.  Johnson's  hrig.ido 
in  the  centre,  and  two  regiments — the  fi'"iieth  Tennessee  regiment 
«nd  the  first  Tennessee  battalion,  con-olidated,  under  Major  C.  Vf'. 
Robertson,  and  the  seventh  Texas,  un<ler  M:ijor  Van  Zmt — on  the 
left.  The  rest  of  Gregg's  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Suggs, 
formed  a  second  line.  Ciflpepper's  battery  was  placed  in  position  on 
the  right  of  McNair's  brigade,  Everett's  on  the  right  of  Johnson's 
brigade,  and  liledsoc's  on  the  right  of  the  two  regiments  in  the  front 
line  from  Gregg's  brigade.  Iliailman's  division  formed  on  iny  left, 
»nd  Stewart's  on  my  right ;  Hood's  division,  commanded  by  Briga- 
dier(jeneral  Law,  formed  in  rear  (f  my  divi><ion,  giving  us  a  depth 
of  three  lines.  About  ten  o'clock,  A  .M.,  our  skirmishers  fell  back 
nndcr  the  advance  of  the  enemy.  My  line  promptly  opened  a  steady 
fire  with  artillery  ami  sniiill  arms,  which  soon  lepulsed  the  attauk. 
Ten  minutes  after  eleven  o'clock,  A.  .^L,  a  general  advance  was 
ordered,  which,  commencing  somewhere  on  the  right,  included  Hind- 
man's  division  on  the  left.  The  enemy  occupied  the  ground  in  our 
front,  along  the  road  leading  from  Chattanooga  to  Lee  &  (Jordon's 
mill.  Their  line  was  formed  along  the  fence  at  Brothcrton's  house, 
»nd  they  had  a  battery  in  the  open  field  south  of  the  house,  where 
Johnson's  brigade  had  captured  a  battery  on  Saturday.  The  cneroj 
also  occupied  two  lines  of  breastworks,  made  of  rails  and  timber, 
extending  along  my  front  and  to  the  left  of  it,  in  the  woods  we?t  of 


9  J 

Brotherton's  farm.  15y  order  of  Major  General  Hood,  I  moved  my 
division  forward  ami  at  once  ei)ga;a;ed  the  enemy.  We  advanced 
abf  ut  six  hundred  yards  through  the  woods,  under  a  heavy  firu>  of 
artillery  nnd  infantry,  whii-h  swept  our  ranks  with  terrific  effect,  and 
orossed  the  na<l  to  Lee  A:  Gordon's  mill,  the  left  brigades  of  my  divis- 
ion passing  on  either  side  of  Brotherton's  house.  Our  charge  was 
irresistible,  and  the  Yankees  who  did  not  floe  were  killed  and  cap- 
tured  at  the  fences  and  out-houses.  Among  the  latter  is  especially 
uierlioned  Colonel  F.  A.  Bartleson,  of  the  one  hundredth  Illinois 
regiment,  who  was  captured,  with  many  others,  by  Johnson's  brigade. 

Everett's  batttry  now  tonk  a  position  in  a  field  south  of  Brother- 
ton's  house  and  openeu  to  the  front  and  left,  firing  about  six  rounds 
to  the  piece,  and  my  line  again  moved  forward  under  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  enemy's  breastworks.  The  fire  was  so  heavy  that  my  right  brig- 
;ide  faltered  for  a  moment  and  some  of  the  men  commenced  falling 
back,  but  it  was  soon  rallied  and  moving  forward  again.  My  whole 
line,  Gregg's  brigade  in  rear,  supported  by  Hood's  division,  under 
lyaw,  in  a  third  line,  swept  forward  with  great  force  and  rapidity  and 
carried  the  breastwoiks,  from  which  the  foe  precipitately  retreated, 
under  a  heavy  fire,  particularly  directed  to  the  left,  from  my  left 
brigade.  Having  advanced  some  distance  in  the  woods  west  of 
Brotherton's  farm,  to  the  foot  of  a  small  ascent  covered  with  a  thick 
s^rowth  of  young  pines,  my  right  brigade  halted  under  the  eS'ect  of  a 
heavy  fire,  which  was  also  sevcrcdy  damaging  my  second  line.  Colo- 
nel Suggs  now  pushed  to  the  front  the  three  regiments  of  Gregg'.* 
brigade  which  had  formed  my  second  line,  Jcdinson's  brigade  moving 
to  the  left  at  the  same  time,  and  again  my  line  advanced  rapidly  on 
the  enemy,  driving  them  from  the  woods  east  of  Dyer's  h'  use, 
McNair'.i  brigade  bearing  to  the  right 

Our  lines  now  emerged  from  the  forest  into  open  ground  on  the 
border  of  long  open  fields,  over  which  the  enemy  were  retreating, 
under  cover  of  several  batteries,  which  were  range(i  along  the  crest  of 
u  ridge  on  our  right  and  front,  running  up  to  the  corner  of  a  stubble- 
leld,  and  of  one  battery  on  our  left  ana  front,  posted  on  an  elevation 
in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  just  at  the  corner  of  a  field  near  a  peach 
orchard  and  southwest  of  Dyer's  house.  The  scene  now  presented 
was  unspeakably  grand.  The  resolute  and  impetuous  charge,  tlio 
rush  of  our  heavy  columns,  sweeping  out  from  the  shadow  and  gloniv 
of  the  forest  into  the  open  fields,  flooded  with  sunlight,  the  glitter 
arms,  the  onward  dash  of  artillery  and  mounted  men,  the  retreat  >  . 
the  foe,  the  shouts  of  the  hosts  of  our  army,  tlie  dust,  the  smoke, 
the  noi.-e  of  fire-arms,  of  whistling  balls  and  grape-shot,  and  of  burst- 
ing shell,  made  up  a  battle  scene  of  unsurpassed  grandeur.  Here 
<tei)eral  Hood  gave  me  the  last  order  I  received  from  him  on  the  field  : 
"Go  ahead  and  keep  ahead  of  everything."  How  this  order  was 
■beyed  will  be  best  determined  by  those  who  investigate  all  the 
Ictails  of  this  battle. 

The  unuHUJil  depth  of  our  columns  of  attack,  in  this  part  of  the 
;ield  and  the  force  and  jiower  with  which  it  was  thrown  upon  the 
enemy's  lino  had  now  completely  broken  and  routed  their  centre  and 


I 


95 

caBt  the  shattered  fiVgments  to  the  right  aod  left.  Everett's  battery 
was  here  ordered  into  action  on  the  right  of  Johnson's  brigade  and 
opened  upon  the  retreating  foe,  while  ray  line  continued  to  advance. 
I'Lere  was  now  an  interval  of  eight  hundred  jards  between  Hind- 
man's  division  on  my  left  and  mv  coromnnd.  Johnsou".s  brigade,  on  the 
left,  bore  but  slightly  to  the  right,  its  left  regiment  irtretching  across 
the  road  from  Dyer's  house  to  Crawfish  road,  and  passing  on  both 
sides  of  the  house.  Gregg's  brigade,  in  the  centre,  moved  a  little  to 
the  right,  so  as  to  flank  and  capture  nine  pieces  of  artillery,  on  its 
right,  posted  on  the  ascent  to  the  eraiiicncc,  in  the  corner  of  the  field 
north  of  Dyer's  house.  McNair's  brigade,  now  somewhat  in  rear  of 
the  two  left  brigades,  moved  obliquely  to  the  right  and  directly  npon 
the  eminence.  Sly  line  was  here  uncovered  by  flood's  division,  which 
must  have  changed  its  direction  to  the  right. 

The  nine  pieces  captured  by  Gregg's  brigade  are  reported  by  Col. 
Suggs,  comnnnding,  as  having  been  taken  from  the  field  by  a  detail 
under  Adjutant  Fletcher  Beaumont,  of  the  fifiieth  Tennessee  regi- 
ment, who  caused  ;hc  Yankee  drivers  to  diive  some  of  the  teams  to 
the  rear.  Four  of  these  pieces — three-inch  rifles — belonged  to  the 
first  Missouri  P'edoral  battery,  und  are  now  in  possession  of  the  first 
Missouri  Confederate  battt  ry,  (Bledsoe's,)  attached  to  Gregg's  brig- 
ade. A  statement  made  by  Adjutant  I^-aumcnt  in  regard  to  the  cap- 
ture is  herewith  enclosed. 

In  this   advance.    Brigadier  General    E.  McNair.  commanding  the 
■'it  brigade,  and  Colonel  Harper,   of  the  first    Arkansas   regiment, 
;!iat  brigade,  were  wounded — ihc  latter  mortally,  and  the  command 
(•!   .McNair's  brigade  devolved   upon   Cidonel  Coleman,  of  the  thirty- 
ninth    >iorth    Carolina    regiment.       Colonel     Coleman     reports    that 
^I'^Xair's  brigade  charged  and  carried  the  eminence  in  the  corner  of 
field  to  our  right,  capturing   the    ten  guns,  eight  of  which  were 
mediately  carried  off,  and  two  were  siibseijuently  removed,  and  that 
the  brigade  fell  back  fc  r  want  of  ammunition  and  support,  and  formed 
nn  fhe   lift   of  llobertson's    brigHde,    of  Hood's  division.      Whether 
: onel  Coleman's    report  has  any  relerence,  in   this  connection,  to 
nir.e  guns,    reported  as  captuied  by  Gregg's    brigade,  or  whether 
r(-  is  any  point  of  dispute   between    these    two  brigade"   ub  to  cap- 
•d  artillery,  I  cannot  now  determine.      McNair's  brigade   has  been 
;>ched  from  this  army,  at.d  I  am  unable  to   communicate  with  it   in 
'•  to  m»ke  my  report  explicit  on  this  point. 

Ill  the  meantitne,  I  discovered  what  1  conceived  to  he  an  impor- 
t  po!»ition,  directly  in  our  front — an  elevated  ridge  of  upen  ground, 
I  ning  nearly  north  ^nd  south,  beyond  the  narrow  strips  cF  woods 
on  the  western  borders  of  the  open  fields  in  our  front  ana  about  six 
hundred  yards  west  of  the  elevation  on  which  the  nine  pieces  of  artil- 
lery had  been  captured,  and  I  hsstcced  to  press  forward  (Gregg's  brig- 
kde,  which  had  halted  for  a  moment  on  the  flank  of  the  guns  that 
were  being  removed,  while  Johnson's  brigade  tipproichel  tiip  same 
pjsitinn  from  the  left.  From  the  crest  of  tbiu  iidge  the  ground 
Je«cenl-  .-ibrnptlj  into  a  cornfield  and  cove,  lying  south  of  Villetoe's 
hoase      West  of  the  cove  is  a  range  of  the   Missionary  tidgo,  while 


96 

m 
noitH  of  it  a  spui  of  tliit  riilga  spreads  out  to  the  east.  Tlirough  a 
gap  ;kt  the  angle  between  this  spur  on  the  north  ami  the  ri'lgo  on  the 
west  of  the  cove  and  about  one  t)ious:»nd  yards  from  the  ridge  on  tho 
east,  whore  my  division  was  now  taking  position,  passes  the  Craw-, 
fish  road,  which  continues  south  ;ilong  tho  base  of  the  ridge  on  the 
western  side  of  the  cove.  Along  this  road  a  line  of  telegrriph  *ires 
extended  from  Ghattsnoogato  General  Ilosencranz's  ho;\d(iuartera,  and 
at  the  gorge  of  the  gup  a  train  of  wagons  fiiknl  the  ro.d,  whil>  a 
number  of  caissons  and  a  battery  of  artillery,  for  defence  of  the  train, 
occupied  the  grounds  near  Vilk'toc's  house. 

The  ridge  ou  the  oriht  of  the  cove  was  taken  without  reaietanco, 
though  ilio  enemy  had  th'?ro  constructed  a  brea.stwoik  of  rails,  and  had 
filled  up  a  largo  number  of  their  knapsacks,  secure,  as  they  doubtless 
thought,  fiom  the  danger  of  the  battle-field.  As  soon  as  this  ridge 
Was  occujiied,  which  was  a  fevv-  minutes  before  twelve,  M.,  our  advance 
position,  commanded  by  adjacent  bills  and  separated  on  the  right  and 
left  ns  far  as  I  could  see  from  our  troops,  induced  ine  immediately  to 
send  my  aid-de-camp,  ('aptain  Elakeraore,  to  report  our  position  to 
Lieutenant  General  Lotigstreet,  commanding  our  wing,  and  to  bring 
up  artillery  an<l  infantry  to  our  suppoit,  v. bile  I  disposed  of  my  eora- 
mnnd  for  defence.  Gregg's  brigade  was  at  once  posted,  partly  facing 
to  the  north,  at  the  edge  of  the  woods  at  the  north  end  of  the  field, 
and  partly  facing  to  the  west,  along  a  portion  of  the  adjacent  ridge. 
Johnson's  brigade  was.  posted,  facing  to  tho  ^-^et-t,  on  tlie  crest  of  the 
ridge,  about  one  hundred  yards  to  the  left,  of  Gregg's  brigade.  Both 
brigades  imiiicdiately  advanced  ibeir  skirmishers  to  the  front. 

When  I  discovered  the  train  of  wagons  at  the  gorge  of  the  Craufiah 
road,  the  enemy  were  niiiking  every  effort  to  get  them  away.  I 
promptly  |)i)-ted  Everett's  battery  on  the  ridge  between  Johnson's 
and  (h-i'gg'.s  brigades,  when  it  opened  fire  on  the  train.  The  fire  of 
the  artillery  and  some  hhots  from  our  advancing  skirmishers,  created 
the  utmost  consternation  among  the  drivers  an<i  teams,  causing  s|^e 
of  tho  wagons  to  be  up-set,  and  others  to  be  run  against  trees  and  up 
the  precipitous  acclivities  adjacent.  Lieutenant  Everett  also  sent 
forward  one  piece  of  artillery  to  a  kuoll  in  the  corn-field,  south  of 
Villetoe's  bouse,  which  fired  up  the  gorge  alotig  the  Crawfish  road. 
A  few  shots  were  fired  upon  us  from  a  battery  of  the  enemy  posted 
on  the  high  ground  north  of  our  position,  to  which  Everett's  artillery  ' 
replied,  firii;g  about  six  rounds,  when  the  emimy  ceased  firing  on  us. 
A  ball  from  J^iieuti-nant  Everett's  battery  dismounted  one  of  the  guns 
(a  ritlo  piece)  near  Villetoe's  house,  by  breaking  the  axletree.  Our 
Bkiruii^her:-'  now  advanced  and  took  possession  of  the  wagons,  caissons 
and  guns.  Lieutenant  Everett  sent  forward  two  teams  and  hauled  off 
one  Napoinyi  gun  anil  caisson,  attaching,  for  that  purpose,  tho 
limber  of  a  si.\-pound  gun  found  near  by  the  Napoleon,  for  which  no 
ImibcT  was  found.  This  gun  has  since  been  ascertained  to  bo  one  of 
the  guns  of  Lumsdeu's  battery,  captured  by  the  enemy  on  the  19th, 
and  has  been  returned  to  that  battery.  Beside  the  two  pieces  above- 
named,  a  six-pounder  smooth-bore  and  another  piece,  description  not 
now  known,  and  seven  caissons  were  captured.     The  wagons  con- 


I 


taineil  some  quarterinaeter's  property,  Init  were  mainly  loailcl  with 
ammunition  fjr  artillery  and  inf;intry.  Two  of  General  llosencranz's 
escort  and  Captain  Ilescock,  of  the  firat  Missouri  Federal  liglit  artil- 
lery, battery  G,  were  captured  on  the  side  of  the  ridge  west  of 
Villetoc'e  house,  where  many  other  prisoners  were  picked  up  by  our 
pkirraisherg.  My  engagements  were  such  at  this  period  as  to  prevent 
me  from  looking  after  or  estimating  the  number  or  value  of  articles 
captured.  Many  of  the  wagons  were  subsequently  removed  by  other 
commands  in  rear  of  mine.  I  now  estimate  the  wagons  captured  at 
about  thirty,  a  few  of  which  ha'l  teams  attnched. 

Before  making  any  disposition  for  a  further  advance,  I  found  it 
nccc.=s«rY  to  rcplcni.'^h  our  supply  of  ammunition,  and,  conseijuently, 
I  ordered  up  a  supply  from  the  rear  and  distributed  it  to  the  most  of 
the  regiments  of  my  command.  Subsequently  we  drew  our  amraani- 
tion  from  the  captured  train.  Lieutenant  Black,  of  my  staff,  now 
brought  up  Dent's  battery  of  Napoleon  guns,  of  llindnjan's  division, 
which  he  found  somewhere  on  our  loft,  and  placed  three  pieces  on 
the  ridge  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  field  we  occupied.  No 
general  officer  or  reinforcements  having  come  up,  and  seeing  no  troops 
in  ray  vicinity,  my  aids  having  been  long  absent  in  search  of  support, 
I  became  impatient  at  the  delay.  Giving  orders  that  our  pvo.sition  should 
be  held  at  all  hazards,  I  galloped  off,  in  person,  in  search  of  support. 
Having  swung  slightly  to  the  right  from  our  first  position,  the  con- 
nection was  broken  on  our  left,  and  I  could  see  no  troops  in  that 
direction.  It  subsequently  appears  that  General  Ilindman's  division 
^  gallantly  drove  back  to  the  west  and  south  the  enemy's  line  in  his 
front  and  on  my  left,  inflirting  a  heavy  loss  on  them  and  thus  reliev- 
ing us  from  danger  in  that  direction. 

Riding  towards  our  right  and  rear  some  half  a  mile,  I  came  upon 
Brigadier  General  Kershaw  advancing  with  his  brigade  through  the 
open  field  upon  the  eminence  near  to  which  wo  had  captured  the  bat- 
tery of  nine  guns  in  our  advance,  and  where  I  saw  the  United  States 
flag  now  floating,  the  position  having  been  reoccnpied  by  the  enemy. 
Here  I  learned  that  Major  General  Hood  had  been  wouniled.  Colonel 
Cunningham,  of  his  staff,  informed  me  that  Brigadier  General  Ker- 
shaw's brigade  was  much  needed  to  attack  the  position  in  its  front,  and 
■]  consequently  had  to  seek  further  for  support.  I  sent  Captain  Blakc- 
tnoro,  who  joined  me  here,  to  find  and  bring  up  General  McNair's 
brigade,  and,  after  riding  sometim'*,  I  found  on  the  road,  approaching 
my  command,  M.ajor  General  Hindman  and  Brigadier  General  An  ler- 
eon,  to  whom  my  aid  had  communicated  my  necessities  an<l  wishes. 
Being  informed  that  Brigadier  General  Deas'  brigade  would  move  to 
mpport  my  left  and  th^t  General  Anderson  was  then  advancing  to 
fill  up  the  vacancy  on  my  right,  I  returned  to  my  command  with  a 
view  to  driving  the  enemy  from  my  flank,  directed  Dent's  battery  to 
oficn  fire  to  the  rear  of  the  cBiin'^nce,  about  tix  hundred  j'arde  to  our 
right,  on  which  1  had  stcn  the  United  States  flag  floating,  and  on 
nhich  I  left  Kershaw's  brigade  advancing. 

More  than  an   hour  had   now  been   spo.t  in  thin  position,  and  I 
resolved  to  prces  forward  my  lino,  even  before  support  reached  me. 
7 


I  therefore  proceeded  to  form  vay  line,  facing  to  the  north,  along  and 
in  continuation  of  the  nouh  end  of  tbe  field  ;  Gregg's  brigade  on  tL» 
right  and  Joliiison's  brigade  on  the  left,  extending  through  the  corn- 
field south  of  A'illetoes'  house  and  to  the  Crawfish  road.  My  line 
being  formed,  I  was  advised  that  the  enemj  occupied  the  ridge  beyond 
Yillutoes"  corn-field  and  west  of  the  Crawfish  road,  and  it  therefore 
became  necessary  to  protect  our  left  Hank  by  Skirmiahsrs  thrown  out 
in  that  direction  from  Johnson's  brigade.  The  advance  commenced 
about  the  time  Deis'  brigade  formed,  facing  to  tlie  west,  on  the  ridge 
we  had  just  left.  I  directed  Brigadier  General  Deas'  to  move  his 
brigade  direcUy  to  its  front  until  his  right  flank  should  reach  the 
position  of  my  left,  then  to  wheel  to  the  right,  sweeping  tho  ri«1gc  west 
of  the  Crawfish  road,  and  come  up  and  form  on  the  left  of  my  line  of 
battle. 

The  crest  of  the  spur  of  Missionary  ridge  north  of  Villetoes'  house 
extends  cast  atid  west  in  its  general  direction,  but  crosses  to  the  south 
about  the  middle  At  the  east  and  west  ends  of  the  crest  are  the  most 
elevated  points  of  the  spurs.  On  the  slope  north  of  the  west  end  n 
Sncdgrass'  house,  at  which  were  the  headquarters  of  Generals  Rosen- 
cra'nz  and  Thomas  during  the  latter  part  of  the  battle.  Towards  the 
south  the  slope  from  the  crest  is  gradual  for  some  distance  in  several 
places  ;  and  especially  so  at  the  west  end,  and  terminates  towards  the 
cove  in  an  abrupt,  secratcd  declivity,  presenting  to  our  approach  from 
the  south  several  secondary  spurs  or  knobs,  with  intervening  short 
ravines.  Along  the  crc.-*t  of  this  spur  the  last  de.«perate  struggle  of 
the  northern  army  was  made  at  the  battle  of  Chiekamauga. 

Gregg's  and  Johnson's  brigades,  followed  by  Dent's  and  Everett's 
batteiies,  advanced  in  line  towards  the  north,  the  left  passing  over  the 
wagons,  caissons  and  pieces  of  artillery  near  ^'llletoes'  bouse  and 
reaching  to  the  Crawfish  road.  There  were  a  number  of  woumled 
•  Federals  at  Villetoes'  house.  The  ladies  of  the  family,  who  had  taken 
shelter  from  danger  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  beneath  the  floor,  no^ 
burst  forth  and  greeted  our  sokliers  with  slapping  of  hands  and  shouts 
of  ji)}',  presenting  an  impressive  scene.  The  brow  of  the  secondary 
spuis  north  of  Villetoes'  house  were  gained  without  resistance  by 
Gregg's  and  Johnson's  brigades,  and  by  Anders  jn's,  which  had  come 
up  on  our  right,  during  our  advance.  The  line  was  then  halted,  the 
alignment  connected,  and  the  two  regiments  of  Gregg's  brigade  which 
were  formed  on  the  Id't  of  my  line  in  the  morning  now  returned  to 
their  brigade.  Four  of  Dent's  Xapoleon  guns  and  Everett's  battery 
of  tliree  guns  were  placed  in  posiiion  on  the  spur  occupied  by  John- 
son's brigade,  and  two  pieces  of  Dent's  battery  were  placed  upon  the 
hill  with  Gregg's  brigade.  There  was  now  no  support  on  the  left  f 
Johnson's  brigade,  though  Deas'  brigade  was  every  moment  expected 
there. 

A  few  minutes  before  two  o'clock,  _P.  M.,  after  the  artillery  had 
opened  fire,  tho  order  was  given  to  advance  from  this  position  t  ■  i, 
view  of  gaining  the  main  crest  of  the  ridge  in  our  front,  which  was 
Bome  one  thousand  yards  distant  en  our  left,  but  much  nearer  on  our 
right  on  account  of  its  curvature  to  the  south  in  the  middle.     Tiio 


^M^, 


.-^ .      ^ 


;^^ 


-    A^' 


/^'     ^ i/l^2^^  a^^tr-^fx 


^^ 


99 

enemy  opened  fire  upon  our  left  before  it  advanced  one  hundred  yards. 
Our  movement  was,  however,  continued  for  a  time,  until  my  left  formed 
a  position  in  ■which  it  wa3  enabled  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check.  But 
the  Federals  moved  up  on  our  flank  along  a  secondary  spur,  which 
united  at  the  elevation  at  the  west  end  of  the  main  ridge  with  that 
upon  which  Johnson's  brigade  was  fighting,  and  this  movement  wa3 
held  in  check  sometime  by  our  troops  fiiinjj  obliquely  to  the  left.  The 
advance  of  Brigadier  General  Anlerson  on  our  extreme  right  was  a 
gallant  and  impetuous  charge  It  encountered  a  heavy  force  of  the 
enemy  posted  in  a  etrong  po.^ition,  from  which  they  poured  a  volume 
of  fire  that  speedily  repulsed  the  charge.  Gregg's  briga<le  gained  the 
crest  of  the  ridge,  after  a  ^harp  coi,test  driving  the  foe  down  the 
northern  slope  of  the  ridge  and  delivering  a  damaging  fire  in  the  re- 
treating masses ;  but  the  enemy  returned  to  the  attack,  and  there 
being  now  no  support  on  our  right,  the  line  commenced  falling  back 
on  the  flank,  just  after  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tillman,  commanding  the 
forty- first  Tennessee  regiment,  was  disabled  by  a  wound.  The  third 
Tennessee  regiment,  with  about  forty  men  of  the  fiftieth  Tenncsseo 
and  seventh  Texas  regiments,  on  the  le't  of  this  brigade,  claims  to  have 
held  its  advanced  position  until  Johnson's  brigade  fell  back  under  the 
flank  movement  of  the  encmy'on  its  left,  In  retiring,  this  regiment 
had  bi.^  men  captured.  As  my  line  fell  back,  our  artillery  opened 
with  canister,  and  was  gallantly  served  under  fire  of  the  enemy's 
infantry  until  the  troops,  rallying  in  line  at  the  batteries,  repulsed  the 
charge  of  the  foe. 

1  now  gave  orders  to  hold  tho  hill,  and  awnit  the  reinforcementa 

from  Hindman's   division  momtntanly  expected.     Soon    Manigault'a 

brigade  was  soen  advancing  in  line  of  battle  through  Villetoe's  corn- 

:  field,  in  the  cove  in  our  rear.     As  it  came  up  on  the  left  of  my  line. 

Brigadier  General   Dcas  reported  in  person,  hoving  with  his  brigade 

swept  the  ridge  west  of  the  Crawfish  road.     Having  sent  a  staff  oifieer 

to  pl.jce  these  two  brij'ades  in  line  on  my  left,  I  rode  toward  the  right, 

and  met  General  IlinTman,  who  directed  me  to  take  command  of   tie 

■  lef'  wing  and  wheel  to  the  right,  making  the  right  of  my  division  ibo 

;.  pivot      MeNair's  brigade,  under  Colonel  Colema,a,  now  came  up  und 

.for;ii'  .i   'I  line  in  re;ir  of   the  left  of  my  division.     1  also  detailcii     m 

mci  Johnson's  brigade  to  assist  ia  working  tha  guns  of  Dei.t'a 

^atl'.y 

'  ,  from  left  to  right,  was  formed  of  brigades  in  the  followiig 

Peas',  Mai.igault's,  Johnson's,  Gregg's  and  Andersoi/s, 

.  :ir'8  brigade  in  rear  of  Johnson's.     Dcas'  brigade  occupied 

lie  bni«  .  f  the  steep  spur  which   forms  the  north  side  of  the  gor,  e, 

througti  Which  the  (.'rawfish  road  passes   >Ii6?i>n3ry    ridge.     Miui- 

gault's   htietched   across  the  ravine   and^^cnded  up  the  side  of  the 

adjacent  ppurto  the  right,  on  which  Joh^^Ps  and  Mclsair's  brigades, 

^'•h    seven  pieces  of   artillery,  were    p^TOd.     Gregg's  brigade    iras 

i"d  on  a  spur  of  some  greater  length,  extending  mi>re  towards  the 

and  separated  in   part  frntn  the  main  ridgp  by  a  hollow,  wiih  a 

•  of   table  lan<l  at  its  head  to  the  west.     Anderson's  brigade  was 

:iijd  in  two  lines  on  the  right,  the  front  line  extending  up  to  lU* 


100 

elope  of  the  spur  on  which  Gregg's  brigade  was  formed,  on  the  left 
and  across  the  hollow  on  the  right.  The  section  of  Dent's  artillery 
Tfiih  Gregg's  brigade  in  the  last  attack  was  new  moved  to  the  hollow 
on  the  riglit,  rear'y  to  be  run  up  by  hand  rn  the  main  ridge  as  soon 
as  it  should  be  carried.  Kershaw's  brigade  was  somewhere  en  the 
right  of,  but  not  connected  with,  Anderson's  brigade. 

I  proceeded  in  person  to  put  the  line  in  motion.  Commencing  with 
Deas'  brigade,  and  giving  careful  instructions  to  preserve  the  dress 
and  connection  to  the  right,  I  passed  along  tl:e  line  until  I  saw  it  all 
gallantly  nsoving  forward.  A  most  obstinate  struggle  now  com- 
menced for  the  possession  of  this  spur  of  Missionary  ridge — the  last 
stronghold  of  the  enemy  on  the  battle-field  of  Cbickamauga.  Our 
artillery  opened  on  the  brow  of  the  ridge,  and  the  infantry  became 
immediately  engaged.  The  firing  was  very  heavy  on  both  sides,  and 
showed  that  the  enemy  were  in  strong  force  in  our  front,  supported 
by  artillery  posted  near  the  junction  of  the  two  spurs  on  wlirch  Deas' 
and  Johnson's  brigades  respectively  moved.  Our  line  pressed  deter- 
minedly forward  for  seme  time,  keeping  up  an  incessant  fire  with 
small  arms.  J3ut  the  enemy  now  evidently  received  reinforcements 
of  fresh  troops,  which  advanced  with  a^shout  that  was  heard  all  along 
our  lines,  and  we  were  driven  back  to  our  guns.  It  was  subsequently 
ascertained  from  prisoners  captured  that  the  reinforcements  were  a 
part  of  General  Granger's  corps,  which  we  fought  the  rest  of  the  day. 
Deas'  brigade,  and  the  part  of  Manigault's  next  to  it,  fell  back  to  the 
foot  of  the  hill ;  Anderson's  fell  back  to  its  first  position,  and  these 
three  brigades,  save  two  regiments  of  Manigault's  next  to  Johnson's 
■brigade,  did  not  again  enter  the  fight. 

In  falling  back  on  the  spur  on  which  Johnson's  brigade  and  the  two 
■batteries  fought,  MeNair's  brigade,  which  formed  a  second  line,  min- 
gled with  the  troops  of  the  first  line  on  the  left  of  Johnson's  and  the 
right  of  the  two  regiments  of  Manigault's  brigade,  and  continued  to 
fight  in  that  position  during  the  rest  of  the  day.  The  retreat  on  this 
hill  was  precipitate,  and  called  for  all  the  exertions  I  could  command 
to  prevent  many  of  the  troops  from  abandoning  it.  The  officers, 
however,  joined  with  every^  energy  and  zeal  in  the  effort  to  stay  the 
retreat,  and  by  appeals,  rommands  and  physical  efforts,  all  save  a  few 
who  persisted  in  skulking  behind  trees  or  lying  idly  on  the  ground, 
were  brought  up  to  our  lines  in  support  of  the  artillery.  In  the  mean- 
time our  batteries  were  promptly  opened  and  gallantly  served  amid  a 
ehower  of  the  enemy's  bullets,  and,  together  with  the  best  and  bravest 
of  our  infantry,  who  promptly  rallied  on  our  artillery,  poured  such  a 
volume  of  fire  upon  the  advancing  foe  that  his  onward  progress  was 
«ffectually  stayed. 

1  cannot  here  speak  t^^ighly  of  the  gallantry  of  the  men  and 
■officers  of  Dent's  and  EvI^H's  batteries  on  this  occasion.  It  elicited 
mj  highest  admiration,  ancl  1  at  once  endeavored  involuntarily  to 
express  personally  to  the  commanders  my  high  appreciation  of  the 
work  they  had  s^  nobly  done.  It  is  claimed  by  Johnson's  brigade 
that  they  r:illicd  f  a  man  at  the  battery.  I  may  be  permitted  to  say 
for  these  noble  men,  with  whom  I  have  so  long  been  associated,  that  I 


•  a^-^/lu^  -^^^^ 


^^ 


101 

tlien  f^lt  that  every  man  in  the  bri^nde  was  a  hero.  Of  Gregg's 
brig*le  I  can  speak  in  no  less  exalted  terms.  All,  inJeed,  who  now 
participated  in  this  final,  protracted  and  trying  struggle  merit  the 
highest  praise. 

All  our  troops  had  now  sufTered  severely  here  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  field.  Hindman's  division,  it  is  understood,  hail  been  especially 
weakened  in  the  conflict  before  it  came  to  our  support.  Neither 
McNair's,  Gregg's  or  Johnson's  brigades  mustered  over  five  hundred 
guns.  The  part  of  Manigault's  brigade  adjacent  to  ray  division, 
about  two  regiments,  under  Colonel  Reed,  of  the  thirty-fourth  Ala- 
bama regiment,  participated  in  the  invincible  spirit  which  fired  our 
men  and  continued  to  fight  with  us.  I  ordered  that  the  hill  should 
be  held  at  all  hazards,  and  determined  that  all  should  be  lost  before  I 
would  abandon  it.  I  felt  that  this  position  (on  the  extreme  left)  was 
one  of  the  utmost  importance  and  might  determine  the  fate  of  the 
day.  Indeed,  defeat  here  would  have  let  the  enemy's  right  swing 
back  around  cur  left  flank,  over  the  strong  positions  we  had  won ; 
and  here,  as  at  Murfreesboro',  where  all  our  movements  on  the  left 
had  been  very  similar,  a  chance  for  victory  might  be  lost. 

About  this  time  ray  aid.  Captain  W.  T.  Blakemore,  reported  to  me 
some  two  hundred  men  of  Benning's  brigade,  in  our  rear,  under  com- 
mand of  a  major,  whose  name  is  not  recollected.  Upon  going  to  it, 
the  ofiicer  in  command  reported  it  utterly  unserviceable  on  account  of 
its  having  been  cut  up  and  demoralized.  I  consequntly  did  not  put  it 
in  the  fight. 

The  enemy  were  not  whipped,  and  the  conflict  still  raged  with 
varying  fortune.  Repeatedly  our  men  advanced,  and  were  in  turn 
forced  to  yield  a  portion  of  the  ground  they  had  gained.  I  directe<i 
our  men  to  advance  as  far  as  possible,  then  hold  their  position  and 
never  retreat.      \Ve  thus  gradually  approached  the  crest  of  the  ridge. 

At  about  five,  P.  M  ,  I  sent  my  acting  aid-de-camp.  Lieutenant 
George  Marchbanks,  Confederate  States  army,  back  to  the  foot  of  the 
ridge  to  request  Brigadier  Generals  Deas  and  Manigault  to  bring  up 
their  brigades  to  my  support.  Lieutenant  Marchbanks  reports  that 
Brigadier  General  Deas  replied  that,  on  consultation  with  Brigadier 
General  Manigault,  they  had  decided  that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  put 
their  commands  in  the  same  position  without  the  support  of  fresh 
troops. 

Over  three  hours  passed  in  this  conflict,  in  which  officers  and  men 
toiled  on  and  manifested  more  perseverance,  determination  and  endur- 
ance than  I  have  ever  before  witnessed  on  any  field.  We  had  now 
slowly  driven  the  enemy  on  the  left,  up  the  gradual  ascent,  about  half 
a  mile,  to  the  coveted  crest  of  the  ridge,  where  they  made  the  last 
desperate  resistance  ;  and  our  lines  gradually  grew  stronger  and. 
Stronger  under  the  animating  hope  of  victetfy  so  nearly  within  our 
grasp.  It  was  finally  nearly  sunset  when  a  simultaneous  aivance 
swept  along  our  whole  lines,  and,  with  a  shout,  we  drove  the  enemy 
from  the  ridge,  and  pursued  them  far  down  the  northern  slope  to  the 
bottom  of  the  deep  hollow  beyond.  We  had  now  completely  flanked  and 
passed  to  the  rear  of  the  position  of  the  enemy  on  the   riJge  to  our 


103 

right,  and  I  am  convinced  we  thus  aided  in  finally  carrying  the  height* 
south  of  SnoHgrass'  house. 

About  the  time  the  ridge  was  carried,  Colonel  Trigg,  of  Preston's 
division,  reported  to  me  witli  a  part  of  bis  brigaile.  I  sent  Ciiptain 
Terry,  of  the  seventeenth  Tennespee  regiment,  who  was  wounded  and 
mounted  on  horsebaclc,  to  place  Trigg's  command  on  our  riglit,  and  it 
relieved  Gregg's  brigade,  which  wiis  out  of  ammunition. 

1  now  proceeded  to  reform  my  line,  which,  in  the  pursuit,  I  regret 
to  say,  was  entirely  broken,  owing  in  part  to  the  peculiar  conforma- 
tion of  the  ground  over  which  we  passed.  I  still  hoped  to  follow  up 
the  retreating  foe.  , 

After  I  ordered  MoNair's  and  Johnson's  brigades  to  form  on  Trigg's, 
this  brigade  suddenly  disappearcil,  called  aw.sy,  no  dDubt,  to  co-operate 
with  Kelly's  brigade  in  capturing  the  two  regiments  of  General 
Granger's  corps  which  surretidered  to  them  about  dark.  I  felt  now 
that  it  would  be  unsafe  to  advance,  disconnected  as  my  command  was, 
and  it  being  now  dark,  nearly  eight  o'clock,  P.  M.  I  withdrew  it 
some  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to  a  good  position  near  the  top  of 
the  ridge,  threw  out  pickets  to  the  front  and  sent  scouts  to  find  the 
enemy. 

My  line  was  arranged  for  the  night  in  the  following  order: 

The  two  re;.'iment8  of  Munigault's  l»rignde,  under  Colonel  Reed,  of 
the  thirty-fourth  Alabama  rtgimcnt,  and  the  lid't  thrown  back  to  pro- 
tect our  (lank,  and  in  suecess:on  to  the  right  were  aligned  Johnson's, 
McNair's  and  Gregg's  brigades.  On  my  right  Trigg's  and  Kelly's 
subsi(juently  formed.  About  eight  o'clock  at  night,  abandoning  all 
hopes  of  advancing  further,  1  rode  away  and  searched  until  about 
eleven  o'clock  for  the  headquarters  of  the  army  or  the  wing,  with  a 
view  to  making  a  report  of  my  position.  Failing  in  this  attempt.  1 
returned  to  my  command  worn  out  with  the  toils  of  the  day.  The 
following  morning  revealed  to  us  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  left  us 
in  possession  of  the  field.  Details  were  now  made  to  collect  the  spoils 
and  bury  the  dead. 

1  ought  here  to  mention  the  h*oic  efforts  on  the  part  of  officers 
and  men  which  came  under  my  observation,  but,  for  want  of  personal 
acquaintance  with  the  parties,  I  cannot  do  justice  to  all.  I  especially 
noticed  the  faithful  foil  and  heroic  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Keynolds,  of  the  first  battalion  of  di?mounted  rifles,  MeNair's  brigade, 
who 'was  conspicuous  in  his  efl'orts  to  preserve  our  lines  and  encour- 
age and  press  on  our  men.  For  hours  he,  with  many  other  officers, 
faithfully  and  incesi^antly  labored  in  this  duty.  In  this  connection 
I  must,  injustice,  mention  Colonel  J.  S.  Fulton,  of  the  forty- fourth 
Tennessee  regiment,  coiiimaiiding  Johnson's  brigade  ;  Colonel  K.  11. 
Ki'ble,  of  the  tweiitythini  Tennessee  regiment ;  Lieutenant  Colonel 
'Flovd  and  Captain  Terry,  of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee  regiment,  and 
Li>-utenant  Colonel  Snowdon,  and  Acting  Adjutant  Gregg,  of  the 
twi  iity-fifth  Tennessee  regiment.  To  Colonel  l^uggs,  I  feel  especially 
indi'iitcd  for  his  gallant,  able  and  efficient  services  in  commanding 
'Gre^'g's  brigaie.      lie  is    a    good    and    meritorious    officer.      <'olonel 


105 

Walker  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Clack,  of  tlie  third  Tennessee;  Col- 
onel Grace  of  the  tenth  Tennessee;  diptJiin  Curtis,  of  the  fiftieth 
Teiinesgee,  and  Captain  Osburn,  of  the  fortj-fir:<t  Tennessee  rc^iraenti', 
all  of  Gregg's  brigade,  merit  special  coininundatinn  for  their  services 
in  this  protracted  struggle.  To  the  courage  and  fortitude  uf  the  men 
of  this  brignde,  as  well  as  to  every  other  brigade  which  struggled  with 
them  in  our  last  persistent  effdrts  to  drive  tlie  encnjy  froro  tlicir  final 
position.  I  trust  the  proper  sense  of  gratitude  will  be  awarded.  CoJ- 
oncl  Coleman,  commnnding  McNair's  brigade,  did  g::llaiit  service  and 
carried  his  command  f  lithfull)*  through  all  the  varying  fortunes  of  the 
field,  on  the  left,  to  the  very  close  of  the  fight.  I  regret  that  I  am 
unable  til  specify  more  particularly  the  services  of  meritorious  officers 
of  this  brigade. 

1  beg  leave  to  call  attention  to  the  cflioient  use  made  of  artillery  in 
my  command.  My  purpose  in  accordance  with  preconceived  notion.?, 
*RS  to  keep  my  ariillo-y  employecd  to  the  utmost  practicable  extent 
in  conjunction  with  my  infantry;  and  my  little  expoiienco  on  this 
battle  field,  only  determines  me  on  all  like  occasions  to  iraproTC  on 
my  practice  of  this  day. 

I  need  add  nothing  more  in  acknowlr dgmont  of  the  s'^rvices  of  Cap- 
tain Drnt  and  hientenunt  Everett  commanding  battprics  in  ray  liues, 
or  of  the  gallantry  of  tlie  men  nnd^r  their  co  n:mn  Is. 

I  have  to  recri't  that  no  report  h;is  been  fiirui.-<bed  me  by  Cap'ain 
Cnlpcpcr,  comrainding  the  battery  attachi-d  to  McNair's  brigide; 
and  I  also  regret  that  neither  this  hittery  nor  I'l^dsoe's  fir.st  Missouri 
battery,  commanded  by  First  hieutenant  II.  Wo.xl,  and  attached  to 
Gregg's  brigade,  for  reasons  not  known  tome,  followed  their  brigades 
or  rarticipated  in  our  fight  fijr  Missionary  ridge,  where  they  would 
have  won  unfailing  laurels  for  every  officer  and  m'n  attached  to  them. 

The  gallant  conduct  of  my  brigade  inspector,  Second  Lieutenant 
M.  W.  RIack,  of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee  regiment,  distinguished 
biro  througbont  ray  t;ommand.  and  I  feel  that  I  can  scarceJy  do  ju.^fice 
to  his  services.  He  was  always  in  the  moments  of  severest  conflict 
•iDong  the  foremost  ranks,  reckless  and  indiffi-rent  to  danger.  Ardent, 
trtive  and  zealous,  he  has  proven  himself  a  raoat  valuable  officer  on 
the  field  of  battle.  While  personally  directing  a  piece  of  artillery 
in  the  fight  00  Missionary  ridge,  on  the  2Mth  of  Septombor,  he  was 
ieverely  wounded  by  a  ball  that  cruched  his  lower  jaw  and  carried 
»way  a  part  of  his  tongue.  His  speedy  recovery  is,  however,  now 
boprfi:!ly  anticipated. 

'?"    my  aid-de-catnp.  Captain  W.  T.  Rlikemore,  who  has  served  with 

i  every  confli.-t  of  this  army,  as  well  ss  at  Donidoon,  and  always 

honor  and  ability,  I  am   indebted    for  much    valuable   service  oa 

eld,  and  he  merits  more  than  1  can  say  for  him  here. 

.y  brigade  inspector.  Lieutenant  E.  R.  Smith,  of  the  twenty-fifth 

Ttiinessee  regiment,  and  my  acting  aid-dc-camp,  Second  Lieutenant 

George  Marchbanks,  of  the  Confederate  States  army,  gallantly  and 

faithfully  labored  with  mc  on  the    lOih  and  SUtb  of  .September,  and  J 

desire  to  acknowiedgi'  my    obli^/jjtions  to  them  for  the  z'al   and  intel- 

l""nce  with  which  they  performed  their  respective  duties. 


104 

To  the  medicnl  staff  of  each  brigade  of  this  division  I  desire  to 
tender  toy  gmteful  acknowledgmentd  for  their  faithful  aud  efficient 
services  in  taking  care  of  the  wounded. 

To  my  vflicieut  ordnance  oflicer,  Lieutenant  James  B.  Lake,  I  feel 
that  a  Fpeciul  acknowledgment  is  iiiic  as  well  for  all  his  faithful  ser- 
vices  past,  as  for  the  prompt  supplies  which  he  furnis^hed  my  whole 
division  from  a  brigade  ordnance  train,  aud  yet,  at  the  close  of  the 
I  atilc,  exhibiting  greater  abundance  of  stores  on  hand  than  at  its 
ccimmencement. 

In  conclusion,  it  will  be  observed  that  the  severest  conflicts  in 
■which  my  command  was  engaged  on  the  field  of  Chickauiauga,  occur- 
red on  the  evening  of  the  I9th,uud  in  the  morning  and  evening  of  the 
2tith  September. 

On  the  evening  of  the  1 9ih,  my  command  suffered  ns  much  in  three 
hours  as  during  the  whole  day  of  the  -iHth  September. 

On  Sunday,  my  command  suffered  .severely  until  the  enemy's  breast- 
works were  carried  in  the  morning,  and  again  during  the  contest  for 
the  8pur  of  Missionary  ridge,  in  the  evening. 

My  division  comraencedto  fight  in  the  front  line  on  the  IHth  of  Sep- 
tember, and  fought  in  the  front  line  through  the  conllict  of  both  days, 
and  at  the  close  was  far  in  advance  of  all  support,  as  it  was  also  at 
different  times  during  the  latter  day. 

The  strength  of  my  command  and  the  number  of  casualties  are 
hereunto  appended.  The  lists  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing  in 
Gregg's  and  Johnson's  brig.ides  were  f(jrwarded  on  the  2Dth  of  Sep- 
tember, but  no  lii-t  has  yet  been  furni.«hed  by  McNair's  brigade,  and 
the  aggregates  are  only  given  by  Colonel  Coleman,  who  commanded 
this  brigade  after  General  Mcls'air  was  wounded. 

I  have  received  no  report  from  Brigadier  General  E.  McNair'or 
Gregg. 

Everett's  battery  fired  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  rounds. 

Bledsoe's  battery  tiled  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  rounds. 

Culpeper's  battery  not  reported. 

Dent's  battery  not  reported,  as  it  belongs  to  Ilindman's  division, 
though  it  fought  with  mine  from  about  one,  P.  M.,  until  sunset  2i)th 
September,  1563. 

1  forward  lurewith  the  reports  of  Lieutenants  Everett  and  Wood, 
commanding  batteries  attached  respectively  to  Johnson's  and  Gregg'»( 
brigades,  and  the  reports  of  Colonels  Suggs,  Coleman  and  Fulton, 
commanding  brigades. 

1  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

B.  R.  JOHNSON. 

Jifi  adier  General. 


105 


LIST  OF  THE  KILLED,  WOVXDED  AND  31ISSIXG  in  John- 
son^ s  Division. 


KiLLKD. 

"Wor»DSt>. 
1         1 

o      a 

Mi«iixa. 

Agoheoati. 

EuiCAPKS. 

m 

c 

•s. 

•9 

o 

• 

Rm&RKS. 

Jiihnsi.n> 

3 
9 

2.J 
100 
61 

28        HZ 

89        43.5 

1  836 

l.T 

1 

8o 
17 
C4 

o.JT 
CuV 
4A1 

»Apgreg«le!J 
en'y    reporled 
inthiBbrignd* 

REPORT  OF  OFFICEPS  AND  3IEN  taken  into  action  on  the  19M 
atid  20M  Stpttmber,  1S63. 


I9lh  September.     {     20tb  September. 


S      l< 


Johr.?<.n> '108         761    I  R69  I     61        49-5        C".6      ».\ot  lurnishea  for 

(i  ';l'> - 134        1218  I  13r.2  I     95     I  768        t<48      20th. 

i* 100     I   HOT   ,  12<i7  I I.     ^..J ' 

L-gr<.gate  iafmnirj,  'i,4'2S. 


lOili 

« 

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m 
o 

September, 

20.  h 

ScpUmber. 

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r.EMAnKS. 

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—  . 

Aggrrg%ie  »ru.i<rrv,  iiSS, 


i 


RErORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  GIST,  COMMANDING 
DIVISION. 

Near  Chullanooga,   Ttnn.,  October  11,  18C3.  ) 

Captain  J.  B.  Gumming, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General: 

Captain  :  1  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
participation  of  the  troops  under  my  command  in  the  battle  of 
Chickainauga  on  Suiidav,  the  i'lth  of  September  last  : 

licinj;  ordered  with  my  brigade — consisting  of  the  fourth  Georgia 
Tolunteers,  Colonel  P.  II  Cohjuitt  comrannding,  the  twenty-fourth 
South  Carolina  volunteers.  Colonel  C.  II.  Stevens  commanding,  the 
eixth  South  Carolina  volunteers,  Colonel  James  McCullough  commad- 
ing.  the  eighth  Georgia  battalion  of  volunteers,  Lieut.  Col.  L.  Nayier 
commanding,  and  Ferguson's  light  battery.  Lieutenant  Beauregard 
commanding — to  Rome,  Georgia,  upon  detached  service,  I  did  net 
engage  in  the  affairs  of  the  ISih  nnl  19th  of  September,  with  the 
oiher  triopa  of  the  reserve  corps  of  M-.ijor  General  W.  11.  'f.  Walker. 
On  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  the  17ih  of  September.  I  received 
oiilers  fioui  the  Colonel  commanding  to  report,  with  my  brigade,  at 
Rinngold,  Georgia,  and  was  further  informed  that  transportation  by 
rail  would  be  afforded  rae.  I  left  Rome  the  next  morning,  upon  the 
arrival  of  the  trains,  with  the  twenty-fourth  South  Carolina  volun- 
teer'^,  eighth  Georgia  battalion,  three  companies  of  the  fourth  Georgia 
volunteers  and  Ferguson's  battery,  there  not  being  ears  sufficient  for 
the  remainder  of  the  command.  L^pon  reaching  Kingston,  I  urged 
the  transportation  agent  to  send  forward  additional  ears  for  that  por- 
tion of  the  brigade  still  at  Rome,  and  he  a>*sured  me  that  ho  would  do 
80  promptly.  I  subsequently  telegraphed  him  from  Ringgold  to  hasten 
on  the  rest  of  the  command.  The  result  was  that  the  sixteenth  South 
Carolina  voluntoerB  and  my  battery  did  not  join  me  until  the  morning 
of  the  'J3d  of  September,  throe  days  after  the  battle.  Upon  arriving 
at  the  terminus  of  the  railroad,  Catoosa,  (wood  station,)  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  19th,  I  rode  forward  to  Ringgold  for  orders  an<l  to  obtain 
■wagons  for  my  reserve  ammunition,  my  own  train  being  Icf'.  with 
the  divi.sidn  upon  my  dei)arture  for  Rome.  In' a  few  hours  I  received 
orders  from  the  (Icneral  cor.imandiiig  to  guard  and  aoiivoy  to  the  army 
a  large  ordnance  train  that  would  be  formed  ami  reported  to  me.  This 
train  was  not  reported  until  near  ten  o'clock,  I*.  M.  With  the  train 
in  charge,  having  procured  a  reliable  guide  in  the  person  of  Dr. 
Evans,  of  Ringgolil,  I  reached  Alexander's  bridge,  at  which  point  I 
was  directed  to  cros-  Chiekainaugv  creek,  if  possible,  about  sunrise 
upon  the  morning  of  the  2!itb,  after  a  most  fatiguing  march  during 
the  entire  night.  1  reported  my  arrivnl  with  the  train  to  array  head- 
quarters, and,  being  relieved  of  further  charge  of  it,  was  directed  to 
Inarch  forward  to  a  point  about  a   mile  distant  from    the   bridge  and 


there  await  further  orders.      After   rcraniDing  nt  this   position    some 
twenty  minutes,  1  was  ordered,  by  a  staff  officer  of  the  Gcnersl  oom- 
man'iin^,  to  move  forward,  reporting  to  Lieutenant  General  Polk,  nn<l 
join   Major  General  Walker's   corps,  being  at   the   same    time  placed 
under  the  guidance  of  a  st.ilf  officer  of  tjenernl  Polk  ;  ho  turned  over 
the  directiim  of  my  command   to   a   second   officer  of  the   same  st.nff, 
end  he  to  a  third  officer.   With  considerahle  difficulty,  and  after  march- 
ing for  some  time,  I    reached    the   division    to  which    I  was   nttachi-d. 
Upiin  reporting  ray  command,  at  this  time  numbering  only  nin>  hun- 
dred and  eighty,  aggregate,  I  was  ordered  by  Major  (Jencral  Walker 
to  at  once  assume  command    of  the   division,  consisting  of  Brigadier 
General  Ector's,  Colonel  Wilson's  and  my  own  brigades — the  brig- 
ades   of    Ector    and    Wilson    numbering    about    five    hundreil    each, 
having  suffered  heavy  lo^'ses  in  the  engagement  on  the  previ-'m  day. 
Lieutenant  General  D.  H.  Hill  was   present  when  I  reported  to  Gen- 
erals Polk  and  Walker,  and.  arJ  I  wa-i  turning  off  to  assume  command 
of  the  division,  requested  Major  General  Walker  to  send  a  brigade  to 
the  8'ip;-ort  of  Major  General  Rreckinrid;re's  division   that  was  hotly 
engaged  in  our  front  and  npon  our  left.      Major  General  Walker  indi- 
cated one  of  General  LiddolTs  brigiides  near  by.     General  lldl  asked 
fur  I  list's  brigade,  saying  he  had  heard  of  that  brigade.    Gen.  Walker 
'rked  thfit  (list's   brigade    is  just    coming    up.  and  directed  me  to 
it  to  (General  Hill       I  ilid  ?o ;   the  brigade  being  now  under  c^m- 
rn  ind  of  Colonel  P.  H.  Colquitt,  of  the  fourth  Georgia  volunteers,  he 
at  once  reported  and  received    his   instructions   from  General   Hill. 
General  Walker  then   dirtetcd   me   to   report  the  other  t.vo  brigades 
■l»o  to  (Tcneral   Hill,  which   was  promptly  done.      Colonel  Colquitt, 
having  bis  instructions  from  General   Hill,  advanced  his  command  ia 
the  direction  indicated,  being  cautioned  that  he  was  to  support  Gene- 
ral Breckinridge,  two  of  whose  brigades  were  reported  in   his  imme- 
diate front.     1  was  afterwards  directed  by  General  Hill   to  follow  up 
and   support   the   advance   of  the   first  brigade  with    the   brigades  of 
Ector  and  Wilson.      Colonel  Colquitt,  upon  advancing  a  few  hundred 
yards  in  the  wood  before   him,  found  himself  in   the  presence  of  the 
"'"ny,  strongly  posted  and   massed  behind  a  breastwork  of  logs,  th8 
»  reported  m  his  front  having  retired  before  the  galling  fire  of  the 
y.    The  directio'n  taken  by  Colquitt  was  also  too  fur  to  the  right, 
'he  left  regiment  (twenty-fourth   South  Carolina  volunteers)  only 
•  directly  upon   the   enemy's  lines,  which  were  so  di"po?ed  by  a 
lit  as  to  rake  the  entire  front  of  the  brigade  as  it  came  forward 
a  severe  and  destructive  en61ading  fire.      The  brigade  could  mt 
•    V.  changed  direction,  as  the  position  of  the  enemy  was  not  discovered 
I'V    I'donel   Colq'iitt   until    the   left   was   within   a    short   distance    of 
'  rcastwork*  ;    the   right,    however,  changed    front   sufficiently   to 
oe  directly  engnged.      Colonel   Colquitt  did    cot   reconnoitre  th» 
ion,  »8  he  was  instractrd  that  our  troops  were  in  his  from.      Trie 
enemy  now  poured  firth  a  most  destructive  and  well-airoed  fire  npon 
th"  ffitirc  line,  and  though  it  wavered  and  recoiled   under  the  shodt, 
y  the  exertions  of  the  gallant  Colquitt,  noMy  seconded  by  C"l<>- 
>$tevens,   Capcri  and  other  brave  and  true   oSicere,   order  was 


I 


108 

promptly  restored,  J<nd  for  aome  twenty-five  minutes  the  terrific  fire 
nas  ^Yiihstood  and  returned  with  marked  cfi°oct  by  the  galUnt  little 
band.  #r 

It  was  here  that  the  lamented  Cohjuitt  was  mortally  wounded  whilst 
cheering  on  his  command;  and,  in  quick  succession,  the  iron- nerved 
Stevens  and  the  intrepid  Capers  were  seriously  wounded  and,  among 
others  who  deserve  to  live  in  their  country's  memory,  yielded  up  their 
life  blood.  One-third  of  the  gallant  command  was  either  killed  or 
wounded.  Reeling  under  the  storm  of  bullets,  having  lost  all  b.ut  two 
of  their  field  officers,  the  brigade  fell  back,  fighting,  to  the  position 
from  which  they  advanced.       The  brigade  of  Ector  and   Wilson  kept 

up  their  fire  from  the .    Tlie  enemy  did  not  venture  beyond  their 

Works,  80  severely  had  they  suflfered,  until  1  was  directed  by  General 
Hill  to  withdraw  my  men  to  the  position  they  occupied  before  advancing, 
and  reform  my  whole  line  in  rear  of  the  batteries,  some  few  hundred 
yards  distant  from  the  enemy's  position.  This  order  was  gallantly 
extended,  under  a  heavy  fire,  by  Captain  M  P.  King,  my  assistant 
adjutant  general.  Our  lines  being  re-established,  we  remained  ia 
position  uutil  about  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  a  general  advance  was 
ordered. 

Major  A.  M.  Speer,  with  seven  companies  of  the  fourth  Georgia 
volunteers,  having  come  up,  my  own  brigade,  now  under  commaml  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Napier,  was  increased  to  some  one  thou.'^and  four 
hundred  men  and  officers.  I  was  directed  by  Major  General  Walker 
to  support  the  advance  of  General  Liddell's  division.  Upon  reaching 
the  Chattanooga  road,  General  Liddell  found  his  command  exposeil  to 
a  heavy  fire  upon  both  flanks  and  fell  back  tb  my  rear.  The  gallant 
fourth  Georgia,  occupying  the  right  of  the  brigade,  eager  to  avenge 
their  beloved  colonel,  the  bravo  Captain  Cooper  and  other  true  officers 
of  the  regiment,  with  a  loud  cheer,  led  by  their  brave  major,  charged 
through  the  woods  before  them,  driving  the  enemy  and  capturing  some 
forty  prisoners.  The  remainder  of  the  brigade  followed  up  handsomely 
the  advance  upon  the  left.  Upon  reaching  the  Chattanooga  road,  the 
force  of  the  enemy  that  engaged  and  fired  upon  the  flanks  of  General 
Liddell's  division  had  retired  from  view  ;  and,  not  being  aware  of  any 
support  upon  my  right,  I  at  once  halted  the  command,  threw  out 
ekirmii^hers  to  my  front  and  upon  my  right  fl.ink,  and  sent  information 
of  my  position  to  Major  General  Walker.  The  brigades  of  General 
Ei'tor  and  Coh.nel  Wilson  advancing,  took  up  position  to  the  left  of 
the  first  brigade  without  encountering  any  serious  opposition.  Not 
receiving  any  furtlser  orders,  and  night  being  nearly  upon*  us,  we 
bivouacked  upon  the  field  of  victory.  General  Liddell,  whose  com- 
mand was  promptly  reformed,  came  up  and  took  position  on  my  right. 
Tiic  firing  ceased;  loud  cheers  went  up  to  Heaven,  and  the  grandest, 
most  important  battle  of  the  war  was  fought  and  won. 

1  Would  respectfully  refer  the  Major  General  commanding  to  the 
reports  of  Brigadier  General  Ector  and  Colonel  Wilson  for  particulars 
in  relation  to  their  respective  commands,  and  ackuowle<lge  my  indebt- 
edness to  them  for  judicious  and  LJlicient  support.  To  Major  B.  B. 
Smith,  inspector,  Captain  M.   P.  King,  assistant  adjutant  general. 


109 

Lieutenants  L.  M.  Butler  and  J.  C.  Ilahersham,  aids-dc-camp,  of  my 
staff,  I  am  under  groat  obligations  for  valualile  assistance  in  reforming 
Commands,  extending  orders  under  heavy  fires  and  other  cffieii-nt 
service.  Major  J.  S.  Green,  brigade  quartermaster.  Captain  J.  A. 
Bowil,  acting  brigade  commissary,  and  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Hunt,  acting 
brigade  ordnance  officer,  were  at  tiieir  post  and  in  efficient  discharge 
of  their  respective  duties.  I  would  recommend  to  the  favorable  notice 
of  the  General  commanding  the  distinguished  gallantry  of  Colonel  C. 
H.  Stevens,  twenty-fourth  South  Carolina  volunteers,  who,  besides 
being  severely  wounded,  had  two  horses  killed  under  him. 

I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  a  report  of  the  officers  and  men  from 
njy  own  brigade,  represented  by  their  commanding  officers  as  having 
conducted  themselves  meritoriously  upon  the  fieM  of  battle. 

I  cannot  close  my  report  without  expressing  my  satisfaction  at  the 
conduct  and  efficiency  of  the  officers,  and  my  admiration  for  the  brave 
and  soldierly  bearing  of  the  men  of  the  division  which  I  had  the 
honor  to  command  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  Their  rolls  of  killed 
and  wounded  testify  to  the  place  jvhich  they  occupied  in  the  picture. 
1  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

S.  R.  GIST, 
Brigtidier  General  commanding. 


i 


EErORT  OF    BRIGADIER    GENERAL    E.    C.  WALTHALL. 

IIeadqiarters  Wai.th*ll*8  Brigade,  > 
Aiar  C/iatlanot^ga,  Oct.  6,  ISCS.      J 

Captain  G.  A.  Wiuiams, 

Assiilajit  Adjutant  Gf^neral : 

Captai.n:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  in  what  c  mcerns  ray  own  cotninand : 

On  Friday,  I8ih  iSeptenibfr,  about  ten  o*<.luck,  P.  M.,  when  the 
head  of  Major  General  Walker's  column  reached  a  point  about  a  half 
inila  from  Alexuuder'a  bridge,  I  was  ordered  by  Bri;j;adier  Gem-ral 
Liiidell,  commanding  division,  to  form  line  of  battle,  with  the  left  of 
my  brigade  resting  on  the  road  leading  to  the  bridge,  and  to  move 
forward,  guiding  left,  and  keeping  cbe  road  to  my  lelt  The  line  waa 
formed  almost  at  right  angles  to  tiie  road,  t}ie  right  slightly  retired, 
and  bkirmishers,  covering  my  entire  front,  were  thrown  forward  about 
two  hundred  yards. 

TLope  dispositions  made,  I  moved  forwar<l  through  a  dense  thicket, 
and,   after   advancing   about   a  quarter  of  a  mile,  the   enemy's   skir- 
mishers were  encountered  in  front  of  my  left  and  centre,  the  two  regi- 
ments on  the  right,   twenty-fourth    Mississippi    rt'giraent  (Lieutenant 
Colonel  McKelvane)  and  twenty-seventh  Mississippi  regiment,  (Colonel 
Campbell,)  meeting  no  opposition,  e.\cept  in  front  of  the  two  coinpn- 
uies  on  the  lelt  of  tlie  twenty-seventh  regiment.     The  road  on  which 
my  left  rested  in  the  beginning  of  the  movement  turns  to  the  right  at 
a  point  two  or  three  hundred  3'ards  from  the  bridge,  forming  a  riglij 
angle.     At  this  point  the  tiiirty-fourih   Mississippi   regiment,  Mnjor 
Pegram   commanding,    and    thirtieth    Mississippi    regiment,   Colonel 
Scales  commanding,  in  advancing  passed  across  the  road  into  an  opea  . 
field,  and  the  twenty-ninth   Mississippi   regiment,  Colonel    Brantley,   ( 
the  centre  regiment  of  my  command,   boing  inmie  liately  opposite  the 
bridge,  was  stubbornly  resisted  ftir  about  fifteen  minutes;^  and,  in  the 
meautinu',  the  regiments  to  the  left  of  this  driving  the  skirmisliers   ■■*■ 
the  enemy  before  them,  swung  round  under  the  enoiiiy's  arhllcry  li 
thiough  an  open  fitfid,  until  the  line  they  formed  was  nearly  at  rl_; 
angles  to  that  formed  by  the  other  throe  regiments,  conforming  in    !.  : 
mam  to  the  general  direction  of  the   creek.       When    the   bridge  wh 
gained  by  the  twenty-ninth  Mifsissippi  regiment,  it  was  done  under  ■» 
heavy  fire  from  tho  enemy   pointed  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  creel:, 
which   along   my  line   was   narrow,  but  deep,  with   steep  banks  and 
impassable.       Tho    bridge    had  been  torn  up   by  the  enemy,  but  this 
faet,  owing  to  the  density  of  tho    undergrowth,  could   not   be   ascer- 
tAiiied  until  the  bank  of  tlu-  creek  was  occupied.       Tlie   thirty-fourtii 
•^ud  tiiirtieth  Missis.sippi  regiments,  after  swinging  to  the  right  as  above 
lucutionod  in  the  field,  had  been  halted  by  their  commanders  and   i 
men  ordered  to  lie  down,, the  enemy  having  disappeared  in  their  froi. 
1  then  directed  the  skirmishers  of  these  regiments,  which  I  had  pre- 


Ill 

Tionslj  ordcreJ  to  be  pressed  forward,  to  be  re calltd,  and  ibe  re;;imenti» 
to  move  by  the  right  flank  until  they  closed  up  an  interval  between 
the  thirtieth  and  twenty-ninth  near  the  angle  in  the  line.  Fowler's 
battery,  of  my  brigade,  during  the  engagement,  was  put  in  position 
by  the  Brigadier  General  commanding  on  an  eminence  to  the  left  of 
my  line  to  operate  on  a  battery  of  the  enemy  which  had  been  fheliing 
my  line,  but  the  enemy  withtirew  his  pieces  while  Captain  Fowler  was 
getting  in  position,  and.  in  the  meantime,  the  bridge  was  taken.  In 
this  action  the  twenty-ninth  Mississippi  lost  heavily,  and  in  the  thirty- 
fourth  an  officer  and  twenty-four  enlisted  men  were  wounded.  The 
twenty-fourth  sustained  no  loss,  an<l  twenty-seventh  and  thirtieth  but 
slight.  When  the  condition  of  the  bridge  was  reported  to  .M«j')r 
General  Walker,  he  directed  nae  to  move  my  command  by  th<>  right 
flank,  under  the  direction  of  a  guide  furnished  me.  towards  IJyron's 
for<l,  about  one  mile  Iclow  AK-.\andcr"s  bridge,  where  my  command, 
followed  by  the  rest  of  Major  General  Walker's  corps,  cro8.«ed.  without 
opposition,  and  moved  about  a  mile  towards  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill,  on 
the  Vinyard  road.  Kight,  in  the  meantime,  coming  on.  I  halted, 
under  orders  from  the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  and  the  neict 
mornings  soon  after  dayjight,  I  moved  out,  left  in  front,  following 
Colonel  (jovan's  brigade.  The  column  had  not  moved  more  than 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  when  it  was  halted  ami  rested  on  the  road  fide 
until  about  eleven  o'clock,  when  I  received  order*  from  the  Brigadier 
General  commanding  to  advance  in  line  of  battle.  After  moving 
forward  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  he  directed  me  to  move  by  the 
right  flank,  and,  when  my  right  was  nearly  opposite  an  eld  shop  near 
the  road,  to  halt,  and  front,  and  sdvance  in  line  of  battle.  Just  hero 
a  et.'ifT  officer  from  Major  General  Walker  came  to  me  with  orders  to 
move  rapidly  forward,  as  Ector's  and  W'ilsoa's  brigades  v. ere  badly 
cut  up  and  largely  outnumbered  by  the  enemy.  Soon  the  (ieneral 
came  in  person,  and,  meeting  me  with  my  command,  gave  me  instruc- 
tions as  to  directions,  localities,  &c.  With  Colonel  Govan's  brigade 
on  my  left,  I  moved  rapidly  forward  and  encountered  the  enemy 
(before  I  had  advanced  five  hundred  yaids)  in  strong  force.  The 
liiring  indicated  that  the  f^o  brigades  bad  met  the  enemy  along  the 
wboie  line  of  both  at  the  same  time  After  moving  forward  a  hundred 
.yard?  or  so  my  line  was  checked  for  a  moment  by  a  heavy  artillery 
■»iid  mueketry  fire,  but,  when  ordered  to  advance,  tho  whole  line  tnoved 
."trorriptiv  forward  with  a  shout,  breaking  the  first,  -md  then  tl.esecoiid 
line  of  the  rnrmy,  passing  over  two  full  batterirs  arul  capturing  four 
iLunired  and  eleven  pri?oiier?,  of  whoiff  twenty-three  were  corarnia- 
•ioned  oTicera.  The  prisoners,  in  the  main,  claiined  to  be  from  th<;  first, 
(•econd.  third,  fourth  and  sixteenth  United  S'ates  infantry,  and  from 
company  II,  fifth  artillery,  and  one  first  lieutenant  from  fourth 
■Indiana  batt'-'ry.  A  l^rge  proportion  of  the  artillery  horses  attached 
1*0  the  batteries,  orer  »Vi(li  we  passed,  having  been  cither  killed  or 
'grounded,  it  was  impos'lble,  at  the  time,  to  retire  the  pince*  as  they 
Ndrere  pained.  Lieutenant _ Colonel  Iteynolds,  field  oflBcer  of  thf^ 
I  day,  with  •  detail  from  the  thirty-fourth  Mississippi  regiment,  removed 


112 

one  Parrott  gun  to  the  rear,  which  was  Jelivercil  to  Major  Palmer, 
chief  of  artillery  on  Major  General  Walker's  staff. 

After  passing  beyond  the  second  line  of  the  enemy  I  ascertained 
that  he  was  turning  my  right  flank,  and,  while  making  a  disposition 
of  my  right  regiment  in  the  eftort  to  prevent  it.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Reynolds,  wlio  hud  been  sent  to  the  left  of  the  line  to  observe  the 
operations  there,  reported  to  me  that  the  enemy  were  already  upon 
the  flank  of  my  left  regiment.  Moving  towards  t!ie  left  I  discovered 
a  piece  of  artillery  being  put  in  position  opposite  and  within  three 
hundred  yards  of  the  left  of  my  line,  which  was  already  turned.  I 
withdrew  my  command  at  once,  the  engagement  having  lasted  about 
one  hour.  The  enemy  did  not  pursue,  and  I  took  my  position,  under 
orders  from  the  Brigadier  General  commanding,  to  the  right  of  the 
position  from  which  Major  General  Cheatham's  command  just  then 
advanced. 

In  this  engagement  my  command  suffered  heavily.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  McKelvane,  commanding  twenty-fourth  Mississippi  regiment, 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Morgan,  of  the  twenty-ninth  Mississippi  rcgi- 
tlent,  were  severely  wounded.  Lieutenant  Colonel  McKelvane 
remained  in  command  of  his  regiment  (after  he  was  wounded)  till  the 
engagement  was  over.  In  the  course  of  two  hours  from  this  time, 
several  immaterial  changes  having  in  the  meantime  been  made  in  my 
position.  Lieutenant  General  Polk  directed  me  to  move  by  the  right 
flank,  in  extension  of  Major  General  Cheatham's  line,  taking  my 
position  on  the  right  of  Brigadier  General  Jackson.  This  was  done 
under  the  enemy's  fire,  whose  purpose  seemed  to  be  to  turn  General 
Cheatham's  right  flank.  Colonel  Govan's  brigade  took  position  on 
my  right,  whereupon  the  Brigadier  General  commanding  ordered  his 
line  to  advance  My  command  moved  forward  some  three  or  four 
hundred  yards,  the  enemy  contesting  the  ground,  but  falling  back 
until  the  crest  of  a  ridge  in  front  of  me  had  been  gained.  Here  the 
enemy,  strongly  posted-,  delivered  a  very  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and 
small  arms ;  the  advance  was  cheeked,  and  in  the  course  of  tenor 
fifteen  minutes  my  line  was  forced  to  retire  to  its  original  position 
on  Brigadier  Gener^il  Jackson's  right,  and  I  was  directed  by  the 
Brigadier  General  commanding  to  remain  there  until  further  orders. 
Four  guns  of  Fowler's  battery  were  posted,  during  this  last  move- 
ment, in  rear  of  Liddell's  division,  and  opened  fire  on  a  battery  of 
the  enemy  which  was  shelling  the  troops  on  the  left,  and  silenced  it 
in  a  few  minutes.  One  section  un<ler  Lieutenant  Phelan,  in  an 
attempt  to  follow  my  hrigad?  when  it  moved  to  General  Cheatham's 
right  passed,  by  reason  of  another  command  being  mistaken  for  mine, 
beyond  the  right  of  my  line,  and  was  put  in  position  at  a  point  where 
the  infantry  supporting  it  was  forced  to  fail  back  before  a  superior 
force  of  the  enemy,  after  a  short  engagement.  All  the  horses  of  one 
piece  were  killed,  and  all  hut  one  of  the  other  either  killed  or  I 
wounded.  One  piece  was  lost,  but  afterwards  recaptured ;  the  other 
was  brought  off.  The  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  in  this  section  was 
heavy,  and  the  pieces  used  with  great  effect. 

In  the  engagement  cu  Saturday  afternoon  Major  Pogram,    com- 


>^    ^>/>^/r 


"^t^-^^^^e^^^ 


113 

maoding  the  thirty-fourth  Mississippi  re.iiraent,  and  Mjjor  Stnplcs, 
commanding  the  twenty-fourth  Mispissijipi  regiment,  were  eeverely 
wounded,  and  Captain  Smith,  the  eenior  Captain  of  the  latter,  having 
been  slightly  wounded,  the  command  of  that  regiment  devolved  on 
Captain  Tcomer  till  the  next  morning,  when  Captain  Smith  reported 
for  duty  and  apsuraed  command.  The  comuiaud  of  the  thirty-fourth 
regiment  devolved  on  Captain  Bowen  after  Mijor  Pegraia  was 
wounded.  When  Captnin  Fowler  reported  that  one  of  the  pi  aces 
nnder  Lieutenant  I'helan  had  been  lost  on  my  right,  the  line  in  the 
meantime  having  fallen  hack,  and  the  firing  having  ceased,  the  twenty- 
fourth  Mississippi  regiment,  under  command  of  Captain  Toomer,  was 
ecnt  to  the  right,  under  the  supervision  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rey- 
nolds, field  officer  of  the  diy,  to  a  point  opposite  where  the  gun  was 
Baid  by  Lieutenant  Phelan  to  have  b-^en  taken  by  the  enemy,  and 
moved  forward,  driving  back  the  enemy's  skirmishers  till  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  the  enemy,  who  had  retired  from  the  position  ho  occupied 
when  the  gun  was  taken,  had  removed  the  gun  before  falling  back. 
The  regiment  was  then  ordered  back  to  its  proper  position  in  line. 

At  an  early  hour  on   Sunday  morning  my  command  was  moved  by 
the  left  Rank,  by  ordc  of  the   Brigadier  General  commanding,  to  the 
rear  of  Major  General  Cheatham's  line  and  then  back,  past  the  position 
■where  it  had  spent  the  night,  to  the  right,  a  distance  of  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  in  rear  of  where  Major  General  Breckenridgc's  forces  were 
engaged,  and  baited  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  Chatta- 
nooga road.     About  twelve  o'clock,  and  after  one  or  two  unimportant 
changes  of  position.  Lieutenant  General  Polk  directed  me  to  move  to 
the  left,  to  a  point  to  be  indicated  by  Major  Ratchford,  of  Lieutenant 
General    Hill's  staff,  to  the  support  of   Brigadier  General   Polk.     I 
moved  by   the  left  flank   to  the   point  indicated  by  ^L^jor  Ratchford, 
who  accoropatiied  me,  and  advanced  my  line  under  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  enemy,  which  commenced  before  1  got  into  position.      I  pressed 
forward  two  or   three   hundred   yards  under   this  fire   through  dense 
nndcrgrowth,  until    the  enemy  opened   fire  on    my  left  flank  from  the 
angle  of  his   fortifications  just   opposite.      About   the    same   time  an 
impre--sion — afterwards    shown    to  be    unfounded — was    produced  by 
itragclers,  and  among  them  one  officer,  filling  bick  from  sune  line  to 
•1  '■  Tight  of   .Tiy  immediate   front,  that  the  right  of  my  line  had  fired 
lur  own  friends;  so  dense  was  the  thicket  that  it  was  impossible  to 
tain  at  the  moment  the  exact  position  of  any  line,  nor  was  1  able 
lid  Brigadier  General    Polk's   command.      My  left   having  been 
n  back,  I   ordered   the  right  to  cease  firing  and  retired  it,  and 
racd  my  line  under  cover  of  the  hill,  and  reported  the  fact  to 
tenant  General   Hill,  who  directed  me  to  hold  the  position  which 
cnpied,  guarding  well  my  left;   my  right  and  centre  being  then 
f    •, .  red    by  another     command,    which     bad    fallen    back,    and    wai 
.,..,r. „  '•'■•■'•  near  roe.      Lieutenant  Colonel   KeynoMs,  of  the  thir- 
•  1  regiment,  who  but  a  short  time  before  I  hfid  assigned 
1  .1  of  the  thirty-foorth   Mississippi    regiment,  fell,  mor- 
•  wounded,  at  his  post  of  duty,  just  before  the  left  of  my  line  gave 
un'ler  a  flank  fire,  as  above  stated,  and  died  soon  aftcrwardi.    No 
;  r  iver  man  or  better  loldier  fell  upon  the  field  of  Chickamanga  than 
8 


114 

■'       (■  ..-r.^   .,1  "•<'-^'nj,ljslicil   officer,  whose  lo?3  is  ileeplj  dcp1'>re(I 
;  <1.     lu  hiii  de.itU  the  6ei'vtce  sustuiiis  a  LL.ivy 
1  _  .   :  •-   :,    of   tiie    thirtieth    Mississippi    regiment,    >v;i3 

vouiidcu  about  the  Baiiie  lituc,  but,  Lis  woubd  beiugt»]ight,  ho  did  nut 
quit  the  field. 

In  a  Ehort  time  after  my  lino  was  reformed,  I  was  ordered  hy  th.^ 
Tiri^z^Jier  General  commuuding  to  move  luy  conitnniid  by  tho  rigbi 
flaijk  some  four  hundred  yards  and  forward  about  half  thit  fiistancc 
and  await  orders.  The  right  of  uiy  bri;;iide  rested  iu  a  field,  near  a 
Itucc,  aud  the  centre  and  icft  in  the  voods,  juit  in  rear  of  a  little 
j.rairic.  In  this  positioi!,  with.uiy  battery  posted  near  the  centre  ..; 
my  line,  and  Govan'b  brigiide  on  my  left,  1  remained  until  about  five 
o'clock,  when  I  rtccived  orders  from  the  JJrigadier  General  con  ;.i:iu  '. 
ing  tTiat  the  line  would  advance  and  to  move  ray  command  ferxv  i.l, 
pui'liiig  left.  I  put  it  in  motion,  my  brigade  being  then  on  the  f  . 
right  of  the  line,  and  met  no  opposition  even  from  the  enemy- 
mi.-hers  until  1  was  in  sight  of  the  Chattanooga  road,  near  MfD';i  n^  - 
house.  Ileie  the  tkirmishers,  firing  from  behind  the  house  aud  t!. 
out-houBCS  of  the  settlement,  resisted  my  advance  for  a  momeu»,  l>nt 
EOi.n  most  of  them  fled,  .i  few  surrendering.  1  moved  across  the  road 
and  into  the  open  field  beyond,  and  was  ordered  by  the  Brigadier 
General  commanding  to  halt  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  road 
and  let  the  nun  lie  down  till  he  could  put  tho  batteries  of  his  division 
on  my  right,  and  to  this  he  gave  his  personal  attention.  ^Vhi!e  my  liiio 
was  advancing  unopposed,  a  continuous  fire  was  beard  to  ray  left,  and 
m'-st  of  it  Ecemed  to  be  on  the  left  of  Govau's  brigade,  and  a.s  the 
division  advanced  this  firing  wa.?  continued  to  its  left  and  rear.  In 
the  field  in  which  my  line  was  halted.  Govan's  brigade  also  halted, 
in  extension  of  my  line.  Skirmibhers  were  kept  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  in  front.  The  order  to  lie  down  hail  scarcely  been  given  and 
executed,  when  the  whole  line  was  enfiladed  from  three  batteries — one 
on  the  hill  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cloud's  hou.se;  another  within  three 
hundred  yaids  of  the  right  of  my  line,  concealed  in  a  clump  of  bushes, 
(both  these  on  the  right;)  and  one  to  the  left  of  Govan,  near  the  Chat- 
tanooga road.  Some  of  our  pieces  were  turned  upon  the  batteries  to 
the  r);:ht  aud  used  to  the  best  aiivaiitage  under  tlie  circumstances,  but 
neither  was  silenced.  After  enduring  a  very  heavy  fire  for  ten  or 
fifteen  minutes  itom  these  three  batteries,  with  no  enemy  to  bo  seen 
ir.  front,  the  brigade  to  my  left  gave  way,  and  my  own  soon  followed, 
falling  back  in  confusion  under  a  furious  cannonade.  The  enemy, 
from  the  woods  to  the  right,  soon  appeared  an<l  occupied  the  road  in 
lime  to  cut  off  and  capture  most  of  the  skirmishers,  with  several  of 
their  oflicers,  who  covered  my  front  in  the  field.  Colonel  J.  J.  b'ealcs, 
commanding  tliirtiuth  Mississippi  regiment,  was  captured  here,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Jones,  twenty-seventh  Mississippi  regiment,  then 
acting  a>  field  cfliccr  of  the  day,  w  as  wounded,  lie,  however,  returned 
to  duty  ne.\t  morning.  With  the  three  remaining  field  ofiicers  (and 
one  of  them  slightly  wounded,  but  still  on  duty)  out  of  the  t<  ii  with 
whom  1  had  gone  into  action  Saturday  morning,  my  broken  line  wa= 
promptly  rtfoimcd  and  moved  foiwuid.     The  enemy  had  wiihd;a«ii 


llo 

before  I  again  reached  the  Chnttanooga  roa<l,  and  I  was  ordered  bj 
the  Brigiidier  General  comtnapding,  Bcon  after,  to.  take  position  in  a 
field  to  the  right  of  Govan's  brigade,  which  ■was  posted  near  McDor- 
ald's  house  and  cast  of  the  Chattanooga  road,  and  to  construct  such 
temporary  protections  for  the  men  as  could  be  made  of  rails,  etc.,  in 
front  of  my  lines.  Just  after  I. got  into  the  field  with  my  con-.mand. 
I  was  directed  by  the  Brigadier  Genera]  commanding  to  move  it  back 
into  the  woods,  in  rear  of  Colonel  (iovan.  Two  shells,  to  which  the 
enemy  replied  from  a  battery  in  front,  having  been  thrown  directly 
over  my  liiie  from  sotte  battery  in  my  rear,  the  first  one  explodincr 
just  uvcr  the  twenty-fourth  Mississippi  regiment  and  severely  wound- 
ing a  man  of  that  command. 

The  next  day  the  whole  corps  move<l  toward  Chattanooga  by  the 
main  road,  it  having  been  ascertained  that  the  enemy  bad  retired 
during  the  night.  In  this  battle  out  of  ten  field  ofiicers,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-four  company  officers  and  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty-threp 
enlisted  men,  which  I  carried  in,  I  lost  seven  hundred  and  five,  of 
■whom  sixty-nine  were  killed  and  twelve  have  since  died  from  their 
wounds.     A  full  report  of  casualties  is  herewith  submitted. 

To  all  of  my   regimental   commanders,  and  to   Captain  Fowler,  o? 
Fowler's  battery,  I  am  indebted  for  their  cordial  support,  and  a  gal- 
lant, faithful  and  skillful  discharge  of  duty  at  all  times   durin};  the 
battle,  as  I  am  to   the   officers   and   men   of  their  commands,  for  the 
'■     ''ess,  daring  and  persistence  (except  in  a  very  few  instances)  which 
d  their  action  throughout  all  the  engagements.     For  individual 
frs  rf  r-^llantry,  etc.,  for  a  more  perfect  understanding  of  de- 
il!y  refer  to  the  reports  of  regimental  and  battery 
rewiih  submitted.     To  the  several  mem'^crs  of  ray  staff 
.a!;ks^  urc  due  for  the  valuable  aid  I  received  at  their  hinds,  by 
-  of  their  prompt  attention  to  all  their  duties,  and  their  gallant 
bearing  under  all  circumstancvs. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  C.  WALTIL^LL, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 


REPORT  OF    BftlGADIER    GENERAL  A.  M.  MAKIGAULT. 


HEAD<iLAKTERS  Ma.MC.ULt's  BrIGADF.,  HlNnMAN's  DiVISION, 

Polk's  Corps,  Army  cf  Tennessee, 
Missionary  Riiige,  Tenn.,  Oclobcr  8,  1863. 


Major  J.  P.  Wilson, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General: 

Ma.ior:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  this,  ray  report  of  the  pnrt 
taten  by  this  brigade  in  the  late  battle  of  Chickamauga  and  on  the 
two  days  preceding  it  : 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  September,  (having  left  our  encamp- 
ment near  Lafayette  the  previous  evening,)  when  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  from  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill,  on  Chickamauga  creek — the  enemy 
opening  upon  our  column  whilst  on  the  march,  from  a  battery  on  the 
opposite  side — we  were  ordered  to  form  a  line  of  battle  fronting  the 
enemy's  position,  which  threw  my  command,  the  right  resting  on  the 
road,  obliquely  across  an  open  field,  cur  front  being  covered  by  ^kirm- 
ishers  deployed  from  each  regiment  under  the  command  of  Major 
Butler,  of  the  twenty-eighth  Aliibama  regiment.  Here  the  men  were 
ordered  to  lie  down,  in  order  to  avoid  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery, 
■which  had  begun  to  open  upon  our  lines,  causing  a  loss  of  six  men  in 
the  tenth  and  nineteenth  South  Carolina  regiments.  This  position 
was  afterwards  changed,  in  order  to  bring  our  right  nearer  to  General 
Deas'  left,  whope  brigade  extended  beyond  me  to  the  right.  Bivouack- 
ing near  the  mad  that  nif.'ht,  we  again  occupied  a  ]iosition  near  the 
same  place,  but  with  the  lines  advanced  and  the  left  thrown  forward 
Bome  three  or  four  hundred  yards  on  the  follo\Ning  morning,  the 
enemy's  artillt  ry  occasionally  throwing  a  few  s;hot  in  our  neighbor- 
hood, but  without  effect.  Our  skirmishers  kept  up  a  steady  Cre , 
with  those  of  the  enemy  opposing  them.  Buffering  a  small  loss  on  their] 
own  part. 

In  the  afternoon  of  this  day  (September  iflthi  we  received  oMers, 
through  the  divJKioD  commander,  to  move  with  the  division  to  join 
the  main  body  of  the  army,  a  portion  of  whu-li  had  become  engaged, 
the  buttle  having  fonniienced.  Moving  by  the  tight  flank, and  follow- 
ing the  brigaile  of  Gencml  Dea^,  we  crossed  ilie  Chickamauga  at 
Hunt's  ford,  wading  to  the  west  bank.  Contiiiu:i  g  to  move  on  for  a 
distance  of  aliout  two  miles,  we  arrived  upon  the  giound  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  which  Hood's  division  had  been  engaged  during  the  after- 
noon. It  WHS  understood  that  we  wore  to  support  this  division.  The 
brigade  was  then  formed  in  line,  with  that  of  General  Deas  upon  the 
right,  and  Anderson's  as  a  support,  »  few  hundred  yards  in  rear — our 
line  facing  directly  west.  It  was  now  after  sunset,  when  the  order 
to  move  forward  was  received,  and  we  advanced,  drepsing  to  the  right, 
some  four  or*  five  hundred  yards,  moving  forward  slowly  and  with 
difficulty,  owihg  to  the  dense  growth  through  which  wo  had  to  pass, , 
Skirmishers  wore  thrown  to  the  front,  the  line  haying  been  halted. 


117 

The  Ekirmishcrs  and  the  left  companies  of  the  thirtj-fourth  Alabama 
regiment,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  brigade,  a  short  time  after  night- 
fall (twice)  became  engaged  with  a  forco  of  the  enemy,  believed  to  be 
a  reconnoitering  party,  in  which  that  regiment  lost  some  twelve  or 
thirteen  men  killed  and  wounded,  but  in  each  instance  inflicting  a 
severe  loss  upon  the  enemy  and  driving  them  back.  Falling  back 
from  the  above  position,  by  order  of  the  division  commander,  about 
nine  o'clock  that  night  we  rejoined  the  line  of  battle,  a  portion  of  the 
brigade  filling  the  space  between  the  left  of  Hood's  division  and  the 
right  of  Major  General  Buckner's  corps. 

Un  the  morning  of  the  2iith  of  September,  (Sunday.)  at  an  early 
hour,  our  final  line  of  battle  was  complete — the  brigade  being  in  the 
front  line.  General  Deas,  with  his  brigade,  being  on  my  right,  and  my 
left  resting  on  Colonel  Trigg's  brigade,  of  Preston's  division,  Buck- 
ner's corps.     My  instructions  were  to  move  forward  when  the  brigade 
to  my  light  moved — the  attack  commencing  on  the  right  of  the  army — 
the  movement  being  taken  up  successively  by  each  division  and  brig- 
ade towards  the  left,  and  I  was  also  informed  that  the  troops  on  my 
left  wouM  move  forward  in  like  manner.     At  about  half-past  eleven, 
A.  M.,   (the  action   having  commenced  on    the  right  at  about  ten 
o'clock. J  General  Deas'  brigade  began  its  forward  movement,  and  my 
own  was  given  the  order  to  advance.     The  guiilc  being  to  the  right, 
in  order  to  preserve  a  continuous  line  (ns  much  as  possible)  with  that 
portion  of  the  division  on  the  right,  the  men  were  obliged  to  move 
forward  at  a  very  rapid  pace.     Skirmishers,  covering  the  entire  front, 
preceded   our  advance  at  a  distance  of  from   one  hundred  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards.     The  brigade  moved  steadily  on  for  a  distance 
of  some  six  or  seven  hundred  yards  before  meeting  with  any  opposi- 
tion, when  we  found  the  enemy  in  our  front,  posted  near  the  crest  of 
a  hill,  a  gradual  ascent  leading  to  it;  and  behind  breastworks  of  logs 
and  timber  their  infantry  lay,  opening  upon  the  command  a  heavy  fire 
at  .short  range  from  their  positions  of  fancied  security.     At  this  point 
the  tenth  and  nineteenth  South  Carolina  regiments  were  partially  in 
a  wood  ;  the  twenty-fourth  Alabama  regiment  was  exposed  in  an  open 
field   in   the  front  of  them,  and  in  tlie  centre  of  which  was  planted  a 
Federal  battery;  several  pieces  of  artillery  also  being  in  the  wood  on 
our  right.     Water's  battery,  which  had  followed  in  rear  of  the  brigade, 
occupied  our  centre,  the  twenty-eighth  Alabama  regimant  on  the  left 
of  it,  its  right  being  on  the  west  edge  of  the  same  field  and  exteniling 
•"•     a  wood  beyond,  and  the   thirty-fourth  Alabama  regiment  to  the 
f  this  wood,  also  in  an  open  field,  with  thick  woods  in  their  front, 
'intire  line  now  became  hotly  engaged,  the  tenth  and  nineteenth 
.  Carolina  and  the  twenty-fourth  Alabama  regiments  advancing 
rhic  eighty  yards  of   the  enemy's    breastworks,   receiving   and 
z  a  heavy  fire.      Here  they  were  checked  and,  from  the  severity 
■  fire,  thrown  into  some  confusion,  not  so  much  from  the  fiie  in 
t       r  front  as  from  a  heavy  enfilade  fire  from  the  enemy  fin  their  loft, 
*!   -^h    caused  a   heavy   loss,  bat   they   almost  iraraeli.it^ly  alvaucol 
;  and  ilrove  the  enemy  from  his  works,  captuiing  many  prisoners 
three  pieces  of  artillery.     The   twenty- eighth  and  thirty-fourth 


118 

Alnbama  repinientB  moved  fteadily  forward,  also  receiving  a  hoary 
fire,  and  drove  *the  eiiemy  from  the  w(>rkfl  in  tlieir  front.  Finding 
myself  at  this  tiiue  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  army,  the  forces  on  my 
Ifft.  ■wliich,  when  in  line  of  Vattle,  1  had  been  told  would  a'hanco 
siuiultancouBly  with  me,  had  iiot  done  so,  (the  information  which  I 
Lad  received  beinfr,  I  gupprsc,  incorrect,)  and  that  my  left  flai.k  was 
overlapped,  as  far  as  could  be  seen,  by  several  regiments  of  the  enemy's 
infaiitry,  and  not  knowing  hnw  heavy  the  enemy's  force  was  in  this 
direction — my  three  ri;;bt  regiments  being  thrown  in  much  confusion, 
atid  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  advancing  through  tlie  field  on  ray 
centre  torecover  their  lost  ground  and  three  pieces  of  artillery  which  had 
been  captured  by  the  nineteenth  ISouth  Carolina,  which,  however,  the 
enemy  did  not  succeed  in  doing — 1  ordered  the  brigade  to  f;ill  back 
iibout  three  hundred  yards,  across  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road. 
In  this  itiovcment  the  two  left  regiments,  the  twenty-eighth  and  thirty- 
fourth  Alabama,  fell  back  with  an  unbroken  f'ront.  In  retiri!ig  the 
battery,  the  pole  of  the  limber  of  a  piece  having  been  broken,  the 
pieee'was  for  a  time  abandoned.  However,  Colonel  Ueid,  command- 
ing twer.ty-eighth  Alabama  regiment,  moved  his  regiment  forward, 
d(  ploying  two  companies  as  fakirmishers,  and  succeeded  in  recover- 
ing it. 

Just  after  having  given  the  order  for  tbe  retirement  of  the  brigade. 
General  Akdersou"s  command  of  Mississippians,  the  reserve  of  the 
division,  came  gallantly  forward  and  swept  l>y  me.  his  It-ft  regiment 
covcrii.g  some  four  or  five  companies  of  my  right  regiment.  The 
tenth  8outh  Carolina,  Colonel  Prcssley  commanding,  the  sixteenth  and 
ninteenth  i^outh  Carolina,  with  several  companies,  there  joined  him, 
and  continued  to  move  forward.  Previous  to  the  advance  of  General 
Anders'on.  I  had  sent  to  General  Buckncr  to  request  that  the  brigade 
i^hich  had  been  on  my  left  whilst  in  line  (Trigg's  brigade)  should  bo 
sent  forward  to  my  support.  They  soon  made  their  appcarnnce,  but 
the  enemy  had  fallen  b:ick,  owing  to  the  advance  of  Geuerala  Deas 
and  Ander.son,  and  others  on  my  right;  they  apprehending,  in  all 
probability,  that  they  themselves  would  bo  cut  off,  seeing  also  that 
reinforcements  were  coming  to  my  assistance. 

1  he  line  having  been  reformed,  the  brigade  was  then  moved  forward 
Mid  vas  placed,  by  order  of  General  llindman,  on  the  right  of  Gene- 
ral Deas'  biignde,  then  occupying  a  portion  of  a  ridge  west  <d'  the 
Toad  known  as  tho  llossville  load.  Here  we  remained  butasbnrt  time, 
■when  orders  were  received  from  the  same  source  to  report  to  Gei.eral 
Uushrod  Johnson,  whose  command  was  then  heavily  pressed,  on  a 
SMCcession  of  ridges  which  lay  east  of  our  present  position,  about  a 
balf  a  mile  to  our  right,  and  to  the  cast  of  the  Hossvillo  rond  Tho 
■command  was  immediately  moved  and  formed  on  the  summit  of  one 
of  the  ridges  before  alluded  to,  the  line  being  at  right  angles  with  that 
occupied  in  the  morning  and  running  east  and  west.  ■  My  right 
covered  tho  battery  of  Ciiptain  Dent,  which  we  found,  to  move  to  tho 
support  of  General  Jolmson,  already  in  position  ;  the  centre  rested  in 
a  g  "ge  between  the  ridge  on  which  the  battery  stood  and  the  left, 
>fhich  crowned  a  second  ridgo  ;  Laving  the  brigade  of  General  I'eas  oa 


H9 

the  left,  the  ri<:>it  of  his  hrieido,  howovrr,  rnYeriiifr  six  rompnrici"  of 
the  tliirtv-fourih  Alah,iu);i  rogiment.  t'kirmishcra  having  l)ecn  thrown 
forward,  imtnctliatcly  developed  the  enemy  not  more  than  onehiin'lred 
and  fifty  or  two  hurdrcd  Vdrds  in  our  front,  with  a  battery  in  position. 

About  half  pott  throe  o  clock,  haring  received  orders  from  General 
Bu.shrod  Jolinson,  uniler  whose  supervisian  the  niovemfnt  was  to  he 
niiide.  to  ewins  rr,y  line  rouml.  making  a  right  h  ilfwliecl.  whit'h  wheel 
was  to  he  continued  il'  practicable,  in  ordor  to  envelope  the  ennnv  in 
onr  front  and  drive  hira  back  upon  the  centre  of  our  liM."i,  O.noral 
Deas  (n  n.y  left  to  coinniince  the  movement,  and  eiuh  pu'^rf'Sf.ive 
brigade  to  onform  to  the  wheel,  keeping  the  touch  of  the  right  and 
drossing  to  the  left,  the  troops  were  set  in  motion  8n<l  here  commenced 
one  of  the  most  de-peratc  contests  of  the  day.  The  movement  %as 
scarce  begun  ere  the  entire  line  bee  nne  cnL'ageil.  and  a  deadly  fire  of 
musketry  and  c.tnister  was  opened  upon  it  at  short  range.  The  line 
for  a  short  time  was  thrown  in  much  confusion,  but  was  fpiickly  rallied 
!ind  again  advanccil ;  again  and  again  were  thoy  driven  back,  bat  as 
promptly  rallied  an  1  m-ived  forward  again,  at  each  advance  driving 
the  enemy  still  further  from  their  original  position.  Nothing  hut  the 
determined  valor  of  our  soldiers  could  h^ive  withstood  the  withering 
volieys  poured  into  thfoi  by  the  enemv,  who  at  this  point  certainly 
foucht  with  great  oSstinacv. 

The  field  iii.d  Cfunpany  officers  were,  as  a  general  rule,  conspicuous 
for  their  go.oii  coiiduot.  urging  and  cheering  on  the  men.  at.d  them- 
selves setting  an  ex  iniple  to  which  their  men  nobly  responded.  After 
a  contest  of  nearly  three  hours,  victory  crowned  iheir  efforts,  and  the 
foe  were  biiffli-cl  and  hea'cn  and  many  takrn  yiris'  tiers.  Owing  to  'he 
exposed  position  of  the  thirty  fourth  Alabama  regiment,  and  to  the 
fact  that  a  large  number  of  the  enemv  still  remained  on  our  Uft.  this 
regiment  could  never  get  ahead,  and  was,  together  wiih  alarge  number 
of  men  from  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade,  held  in  hand  to  pre- 
vent any  demonstration  of  the  enemy  on  our  flank. 

It  was  after  ^ —  .  .  i  .  .1  <  -  ceased,  and  night  ended  the  cin- 
tcst.     The  m'T  !  by  thrir  long  continued  tlTorts, 

bad  the  proud  >    ; ,    »: g   that  they  had  been  victorious 

in  every  port  of  the  field,  and  tha'  their  efforts  had  oontributed  no 
Binali  share  to  the  earning  of  this  great  victory.  , 

I  would  re.opectfully  refer  yon  to  the  li^ts  of  killed  and  wou^d'-l 

already  banded  in.    We  have  to  deplore  the  loss  of  many  brave  ofhi'ers 

»ho  fVll  on  that  bloody  field      The  loss  of  no  one  will  be  felt 

•'If   than   thit  of  Cantain   D.  E.  Hncr.  assistant  inspector 

■--■■"■-'■"•        •        '     -   •  ■     '■  ■       ■    r-1 

,      --i 

.  msnly  mruuiers.  his  ira- 

•  -s  of  his  defi^rtmcnt,  and 

.  ci"  Inepi)  t  ,t  in  action.     The  twentj- 

),..»  on<»  ;    efficient   officers.  Captain 

1'  '.,  a  g'  •  1,  a  brave  and   gallant  oifi- 

Captaiii  '  '."toper,  of  same  regiment, 


120 

were  severely  wounik-il,  «nd  their  valuable  services  will  be  for  a  long 
period  lost  to  their  countrj. 

The  following  naaiod  oflicers  were  distinguished  for  their  conduct 
on  the  field,  and  1  take  pleasure  in  bringing  thetn  to  your  attention 
in  this  report:  Lieutenant  Colonel  Julius  S.  Porcher,  tenth  South 
Caroiii.a  volunteers;  Mnjor  J.  L  White,  nineteenth  South  Carolina 
volunteers,  and  Adjutant  Pencil,  of  same  regiment. 

Of  twenty-fourth  Alabama  regiment,  Captains  Hazard,  Oliver, 
McCraken,  Fowler  and  Hull,  Lieutenants  Higley,  Chapman,  I'acham, 
Dunlop,  Young,  EuJioJm,  Hood,  llanley,  Northrup,  Short,  Adjutant 
Jennison,  Sergeant-major  Minck,  and  Color-sergeant  Moody  behaved 
with  great  gallantry. 

Lieuteni.nt  Jordan,  of  twenty-eighth  Alabama,  conducted  himself 
in  a  most  conspicuous  manner,  and  I  regret  to  say  was  killed  during 
the  action.  Of  the  same  regiment.  Captains  Hopkins  and  Ford,  Lieu- 
tenant Graham  and  Acting  Adjutant  Wood,  throughout  the  action, 
were  distinguished  for  their  gallant  conduct.  Captain  Beiso,  A.  IJ. 
M.,  and  Commissary  Sergeant  Craig  were  efficient  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duties  in  their  resppctive  departments.  Thirty-fourth  Alaliama 
regiment.  Lieutenants  Mitchel,  Lambert,  Oliver,  Crochett  and  Ijicker- 
StafT  behaved  in  a  manner  to  attract  attention. 

I  cunnot  chsi;  my  report  without  referring  specially  to  the  conduct 
atid  bearing  of  Colonel  J.  C.  Eeid,  comniauditg,  and  Mnjor  W'.  L. 
Butler,  twcnty-eighih  Alabama  regiment ;  Colonel  J.  F.  Fressley, 
commanding  tenth  South  Carolina  ;  Colonel  N.  N.  Davis,  commanding, 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  13.  Sawyer,  twenty-fourth  Alabama  regiment, 
and  Major  Slaughter,  commanding  thirty-fourth  Alabama  regiment, 
and  to  their  iiidividual  e.'tcrtioiis  is  to  be  attributed  much  of  the  suc- 
cess which  attended  our  arms  on  that  day.  Untiring  in  their  eflforts, 
they  set  an  example  to  their  commands  by  their  personal  daring,  the 
effect  of  which  was  visible  in  many  instance.s. 

To  my  staff  I  am  indebted  for  the  most  valuable  assistance.  Cap- 
tain C.  J.  Walker,  assistant  adjutant  general,  and  Lieutenant  W'.  £. 
Huger,  aid-de-camp,  who  fearlessly  exposed  their  persons,  carrying 
and  executing  orders  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  l>ieu- 
tenant  Malone,  biigade  provost  marshal,  was  active  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty,  and  rendered  efficient  service  in  the  prevention  of  strag- 
gling, forcing  many  who  were  unwilling  to  face  th^  heavy  fire  to  which 
they  had  been  exposed  back  into  their  proper  positions. 

1  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the  rej  ort  of  the  regimental 
commanders,  who  have  more  particulaily   specified  the  names,  rank, 
&c.,  of  parties  conspicuous  for  their  conduct  in  their  respective  regi- 
luontB,  on  the  occasion  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 
I  have  the  honor,  Major,  to  be, 

\Yith  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  M.  MANIGAULT, 
Brigadier  General  cum»  anding  Brigade. 


RErORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GEENERAL  Z.  C.  DEAS. 

Hf.adquarters  Df.as'  Bnir.APF.  IIindman's  Division, 

Polk's   Corpx,  Army  nf  Tennessee, 
Missionary  Rii'ge,  before  Chattanooga,  Oct.  9,  1863 

Major  J.  P.  Wilson, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  Hindmah's  Division  : 


■\ 


Major  :  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  bj  tny  brigade  in  the  action  of  the  19th  and  2Uth  September, 
18C3,  on  Chickamauga  creek  : 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  17th  September,  my  brigade,  with  the 
division,  left  Lafayette  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  near  Worthon's 
gap.  The  next  morning  we  moved  forward  and  formed  line  of  battle 
on  the  east  sicle  of  Chickamauga  creek,  opposite  to  Lee  &  Gordon's 
mill,  where  we  had  skirmishing  and  artillery  firing,  off  and  on,  during 
t!;"i'  nnd  the  next  day,  utitil  the  division  wa«  relieved  by  that  of  Gcn- 
Breckinridge,   and  ordered   to  cross  the   crick    at   Hunt's  ford, 

■  one  and  a  half  miles  below.  Poon  after  cropsing,  we  came 
fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery    when  I  received  orders  to  form  on 

;:ht  of  Manigauh's  brigade,  with  General  Andcrpon  supporting, 
iove  forward,  which  I   did   promptly,  but   before  I  reached    the 
i  •       f  the    enemy    it  was   dark.      All    fighting  having  ceased,  I  fell 
1  under  orders,  a  short  distance,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

early  daylight,  I  again    moved   forward  to  take   ray  position  in 

which  was  at  the  time  occupied  by  a  portion  of  a  division  under 

];;    •  idier  General  Law,  which  was  moving  by  the  light  flank  to  make 

r     Mi  forme;  but    it    was   seven,  or   perhaps    even   as   late  as  eight 

k,  before  my  entire  brigade  got  into  position,  with  Rtig.  General 

vault's  on  my  left,  and  Brigadier  General  An'lerson's  in  support. 

I  received  ir.rfructions  that  the  fighting  would  commence  on  the 

and  gradually  extend  towards   the  left,  each   brigade  attacking 

'  one  on  its  right  btcame  engaged. 

Tow  minutes  after   ten    o'clock,  A.  M.,  heavy  firing  of  infantry 

■  rtillery  on  the  right,  announced  that  the  fight  had  commenced 
nest.  About  twenty  minutes  after  eleven  the  brigade  on  my 
'Gregg's)  moved  forward  and  engaged  the  enemy.  I  immedi- 
followed,  and  by  the  time  I  had  advanced  three  hundred  yards, 

Se  line  of  the  enemy  behind  a  breai^twork  of  logs,  at  sight  of 
my  men  ru'hfd  forward  with  a  yeli,  and.  charging  the  dpfi.'nces, 
;hem  without  filtering.  As  they  climbed  over,  some  six  or  seven 
red  of  the  enemy  threw  down  their  arms  and  burned  through  our 
to  the  rear.  These  works  were  at  the  foot  of  sgradnally  sloping 
f  considemble  height,  just  beyond  the  crest  of  which  was  posted 

rut  twelve  pieces  of  artillery,  and  in  front  of  them,  a  little  lower 


12a 

and  (rnllant  men  without  a  moment's  fdltering.     About  twelve  pieces 
of  artillery  were  taken  here. 

By  the  liine  I  gained  the  crest  of  the  hill  my  brigade  (which  had 
for  Bouie  distance  been  moving  at  a  double-quick,  passing  in  tiiismnn- 
ncr  over  two  works  cf  the  enemy.)  bec:ime  .somewhat  scattered,  and 
Tkcre,  in  consequeDce,  checked  for  tlie  moment  in  their  onwp.rd  move- 
ment. It  was  at  this  period  that  Brigadier  General  Anderson's  g.il- 
lant  Mis.-is^ippi  brigade  came  to  my  assistance,  and  as  my  men  saw 
them  coming  they  moveil  forward  again  and,  in  conjunction  M-ith  this 
brigade,  captured  several  other  pieces  of  artillery  and  Blattered  the 
enemy  in  our  front  so  effectually  that  they  never  rallied  or  reformed 
again  during  the  day  on  this  part  of  the  field.  During  this  charge, 
niy  brig::de  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the  army,  with  the  exception 
of  Brigadier  (.icneral  Anderson's,  which,  from  being  in  support,  had 
got  on  my  ki'c.  I  now  halted  and  reformed  my  brignde,  to  be  u.sedas 
emergencies  might  require  ;  and,  learning  that  Major  General  ilind- 
nian  was  near  by,  reported,  in  person,  and  received  orders  to  move  to 
the  rear  and  right,  and  assist  the  troops  then  eng.iged,  which  proved 
to  be  Brigaditr  General  Bushrod  Johnson's  division.  I  shoulii  heio 
£tate  lh.1t  my  men  killed,  early  in  the  fight,  and  bore  off  the  body  of 
Biigadicr  General  Lfetle,  United  States  army. 

In  moving  back  t^  'take  a  new  pos-ition,  Brigadier  General  Ander- 
son's brigalo  and  mine  came   together,  i)ut   soon   si-parated  again,  ha 
going  to  the  right,  and  I  to  the  left,  to   fjrra  on  the  kft  of  Brigadier 
General  Uu^'hrod  Johnson  ;  but  on  taking  my  position,  under  instruc- 
tions from  him,  I  foumi  there  was  a  gnp   of  about  si*  or  seven    hun- 
dred yards.     General  Manigault,  coming  up  some  time  ^fter  this  with 
Lis  brigade,  was   ordered   by  Major   General   llindman  to  fill  up  this 
gap.     To    get    into    line    with  these  brigades,  it  was    necessary   for 
me  to  make  a  right  wheel  and   to  form  a  line  at  riglit  angles  with  my 
last.     It  was  now  about  four  o'clock.     My  line  having  been  formed,  I 
was   ordered   by    General   Jolin,«on   to   make  a  right  wheel  again,  or 
swing  to  the   right,  which   brought  me  in   collision  with    the  enemy. 
My  biigade  at  tl.is  time  being  the  extreme  left  of  the  army,  and  on 
the  cast  side  of  the  Rotsville  road,  formed  a  line  facing  almost  to  • 
left  flank  of  the   one  I  occupiol  in    the   morning.      Hero  coinmen 
an  attack  on  the  right  and  rear  of  Thomas'  or  Granger's  corps,  po^^  i 
ou  a  steep  hill,  on  which  was   planted  artillery.     My   brigade   was   .: 
this  time  without  any  support  whatever.     The  a.scent  of  this  hill  " 
exceedingly  diilicult,  besides  being  very  steep.      Hero  I  met  with  ; 
most    obstinate    resi.-tunce    I    had    encountered    during    the    i! 
and,    after    contending    with   the    enemy  in  this  unequal  posi;: 
during  an  hour  and  a  half,  my  men   in   this  time  having   been  v     - 
tially  driven  back  several  times,  my  whole  line  was  finalf^'  (iriven  dnwu 
the  hill.     After  reforming  in  an  adjoining  hollow,  I  again  moved  fji- 
vard  and   found  that  the  attack  on  the  enemy  had  been  so  severe  i 
they  were  not  di-^posed  to  risk  another  eogiigement,  and  had  reti. 
leaving  me  in  possession  of  the  field. 

It  v,ae  now  dark,  and  I  posted  my  command  so  as  to  bold  the  Ross- 
ville  road,  ou   which  1  then  was,  and   then  sent  forward  scouts  one 


123 

mile  to  the  front,  wlio  reported   no  enemj.  but  captured  about  fifty 
prisoners.     Here  I  bivouacked  for  the  ni^ht. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  the  battle  was  fought  did  r.ot 
admit  of  the  free  use  of  artillery,  but  Dent's  battery,  which  was 
sttMcbed  to  my  bric^ado,  followed  it  closely  durin;;  the  morning  ;Utack, 
firinp,  however,  only  a  few  shots;  but  in  the  afternoon  it  rendered 
sigrial  service,  fighting  at  the  time  witli  other  coraraands  on  my  right. 
The  officers  deserve  special  mention  fur  their  conduct. 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  testifying  my  high  appreciation 
of  ihe  courage  and  daring  dispbiyed  by  the  officers  and  men  of  tho 
brigade  which  I  had  the  honor  to  command  on  this  ever  memorable 
field.  Thpy  here  udded  frefeb  laurcds  to  those  already  won  on  otber 
fields  in  the  sacred  cause  of  their  country. 

To  regimental  and  battery  commanders  and  their  brave  men,  my 
thnnk'B  are  due  and  most  willingly  tendered  for  their  very  valuable 
assistance  and  co-operation  in  aiding  to  bring  this  battle  to  a  success- 
ful and  decisive  issue. 

To  my  staff.  I  am  specially  indebted  for  their  willingness  and  gal- 
lantry in  carrying  out  my  orders  on  the  field  :  Captain  E.  F.  Travis, 
assistant  adjutant  general  ;  Captain  Douglas  Wirt,  acting  as-i'^tant 
insp"  ctor  general  ;  l^ieutenant  F.  G.  Lyon,  aid-de  camp  ;  Captain  11. 
H.  Williams,  roluntcer  aid-de-camp ;  Lieutenant  C.  J.  MichailnfT-kv, 
prAvopt  marshal, 'ST.  !  to  Senior  Surgeon  V.  B.  Gilbert  ;  Major  11.  J. 
llili.  a-si^tant  quart:^tmaster;  Major  H  A.  Dea«,  assistant  commit'sary 
of  s-.il><iHtC!ice,  and  Lieutemiit  T.  B  Dallas,  ordnance  officer,  f'>r  the 
zeal  and  t-fficiency  with  which  they  discharged  the  duties  of  their  seve- 
ral ^e^p^ctlve  departments. 

In  g)in  J  into  the  fijht  on  the  2nth,  the  brigade  numbercd^ne  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  officers,  and  seventeen    hundreil    and   eighty-five 
enlisted   men,  of  whom    one   hundred    and    twenty-five   were  killed, 
five    hundred   and   ninety-two  wounded,  and   twcnty-ci^ht    missing; 
total,  seven  hundred  and  forty-five      Among  the  killed  1  much  regret 
to  n-cc'rd  the  name  of  Lieutenant  Colonrd  John  Weeden,  commanding 
twenty- «econd  .\iabama  regiment,  who  fell,  early  on  Sunday  morning, 
■while  miii  gallantly  leadin<;  and  cheering  on  his  brave  regiment     A 
few  mir.uTcs  before  hira,  fell  the  ranking   captain  of  this  regiment,  I. 
D    N    ■:    rtian  whom  no  braver  or  better   officer   ever   poured   out  his 
1  in  bis  country's  cause.     He  died  where  the  brave  and  good 
.  in  the  front  rank,  leading  hi-:  men   on   to   victory.     Two 
!»  !  whose   lives   were  sacrificed  to  fanaticism.      Msj   B  R.Ilart, 
"  sam"  rogionent,  was  severely  woun'led  in  the  same  charge. 

i  to  state  that,  on  Sunday  afternoon  1  pasted  over 
■zen  ordnance  wagons,  filled  with  ordnance  stores  ; 
ces  of  artillery  and  caissons  ;  many  ambulances,  and 
ly  wagon«,  and  a  df  zcn  or  nriiire  mules  and  horses. 
..  -catly  been  a  stampede  here,  and  these  were  the  fruits 

1  'irg.  T  wi-b  fo  mention  the  fact,  that  the  fifteenth  Ala- 
res,  was  with  my  brigade  a  porfi"n  of  the 
..  Sunday  morning,  and  afterwards  left  me 


IS4 

to  go  to  the  assistance  of  General  Johnson  in  the  fight  of  the  after- 
noon. It  is  simple  justice  to  say  that,  what  I  saw  of  this  re-^iment, 
it  was  behaving  with  great  gallantry. 

I  am,  Major,  very  regpectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  C.  DEAS, 
Brigadier  General  commnnding. 


The  following  statement  probably  appertains  more  to  the  divibion 
than  to  the  brigade  report  of  this  battle,  and  is  therefore  reserved  for 
the  postscript : 

According  to  (he  strong  testamentary  evidence  of  the  occasion,  and 
that  also  of  very  many  prisoners, this  brigade,  very  materially  and  oppor- 
tunely assisted  by  Anderson's,  attacked,  on  Sunday  morning  Sheridan's 
divi.-ion,  of  McCook's corps  ;  and  by  the  impetuosity  of  their  attack  so 
thoroughly  cut  off  Davis'  division,  of  the  same  corps,  that  they  never 
again  assisted  in  the  fight  on  that  day,  and,  from  the  best  information 
I  can  gather,  fell  back  to  Chattanocga  by  the  western  road  to  Ross- 
ville.  The  names  of  divisions  above  cited  are  taken  from  the  state- 
ments of  prisoners. 

This  postcript  is  meant  more  for  information  than  as  a  portion  of 
my  report. 

1  am  Major,  very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

Z.  C.  DEAS, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  TATTON  ANDERSON. 

Headquarters  Axperson's  Brigade,  Hinpman's  DivrsroN,  ) 

Polk's  Corps,  Army  of  Tennessee,  \ 

Misaionary  Ridge,  near  Chattanooga,  Tenn,,  Oct.  6,  18G3.  ) 

Major  J.  P.  Wii.?o.v, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Uindmans  Division  : 

Major  :  I  have  the  honor  to  Buhmit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  hy  this  command  in  the  late  battle  of  Chickara'auga: 

On  the  evening  of  the  19th  of  September,  at  about  five  o'clock,  P. 
M  ,  Major  General  Hindman  assumed  command  of  the  division  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Chickamauga,  not  long  after  we  had  crossed  to  that 
side,  and  while  the  division  was  being  put  in  position  for  the  impend- 
ing battle.  I  resumed  the  command  of  my  brigade,  which  had  been 
relinquished  on  the  17th.  at  Lafayette,  tieorgia,  for  the  purpose  of 
relieving  Major  General  Hindman.  who  was  too  unwell  to  exercise  the 
command  of  his  division.  On  taking  command  of  my  brigade,  I  took 
position  in  line  from  two  to  three  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  Deas'  left, 
and  JIanigault's  right,  as  the  reserve  brigade  of  Hindman's  division. 
We  bivouacked  on  the  field  for  the  night,  and  received  orders  to  take 
up  and  continue  the  attack  ordered  to  be  made  on  the  right  at  daylight 
on  the  morning  of  the  2()th  of  September.  The  attack  on  our  right  was 
not  made,  however,  until  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  2Mth,  when  it  was  promptly  taken  up  by  Deas  and 
Manigault  in  my  front,  and  the  whole  division  moved  conBilently  on 
the  enemy's  first  line.  Deas  swept  everything  before  him,  without 
halting,  or  even  checking  up.  in  his  advance  to  and  over  the  enemv's 
first  line  of  breastworks.  ManigauU  was  checked,  and  diverged  to 
the  left,  unmasking  my  two  left  regiments.  The  whole  brigade  was 
moved  steadily  forward,  gradually  closing  the  space  between  it  and 
Deas'  line,  tintil  the  ascent  of  a  range  of  wooded  hills  was  reached, 
where  the  enemy,  by  reason  of  his  advantageous  position  for  both 
infantry  and  artillery,  had  brought  Deas  momentarily  to  a  stand. 
Three  pieces  of  his  artillery,  strongly  posted  about  two-thirds  of  the 
■way  op  the  hill  and  supported  by  infantry,  were  causing  Deas'  left 
regiment  to  waver,  when  I  ordered  an  "advance.  The  command  wag 
most  gallantly  responded  to,  the  artillery  captured,  the  heights  carried, 
and  the  enemy  bo  badly  routed  as  to  be  unable  to  make  any  real  stand 
again  upon  that  part  of  the  field.  I  continued  in  pursuit,  however, 
for  half  a  mile  or  more,  when,  finding  my  lines  imperfect  by  reason  of 
some  being  able  to  follow  faster  than  others,  I  rode  to  those  in 
advance  and  soon  succeeded  in  halting  them  until  the  liTie  could  be 
perfected.  Here  Colonel  Coltart,  of  Deas'  brigade,  with  a  portion  of 
his  fiiftieth   Alabama)  rf ^  '         1    another  colonel,  of  some  other 

command,  whose  name  11  n,  with  a  few  men,  reported  to  me, 

paving  lost  their  proper  c Before  the  new  alignment  had 

been  coDpIet«d,  a  etaflf  officer  from  General  Hindman  recalled  me  from 


12o 

further  pursuit,  on  account  of  a  flank  fire  which  h;i(l  been  opcne>l  by 
the  enemy,  with  artillery  and  small  arms,  on  my  rear  and  left  regi- 
jjjpnts — the  forty-first  and  ninth  Mississippi,  Colonel  Tucker  and 
^^lj■lr  Lvnam  commanding,  respectively. 

After  reforming,  the  command  was  marched  back,  by  General 
Ilindman's  order,  in  the  direction  from  which  it  had  advanced,  a 
distance  of  about  a  half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  then  changed 
direction  to  the  right  over  an  open  field,  towards  a  position  whore 
Kershaw  was  reported  to  be  heavily  pressed. 

My  brigade  reached  this  position  about  three  in  the  afternoon  and 
was  ordered  to  form  line  on  Kershaw's  left,  to  support  him  in  an  atta'-k 
upon  a  wooded  hill  in  his  front,  w). ere  the  enemy  was  strongly  jostid. 
Iti  taking  position  it  was  found  that  the  comumnd  of  Urigaiiier  General 
Bushrod  Johnston  was  in  line  on  the  extreme  left,  with  not  suffii'ii'nt 
interval  between  his  right  and  Ki-r.shaw's  left  for  my  whole  command. 
The  interval,  however,  was  filled,  and  the  over-plus  held  in  reserve. 
The  attack  was  soon  made  by  the  whole  line.  It  was  stubbornly  resisted 
from  a  very  strong  position  just  behind  the  crest  of  the  hill.  A  por- 
tion of  two  of  my  regiments  gained  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  planted 
co!o"S  there,  but  the  position  was  a  hot  one,  and  some  breaking  to  the 
rear  on  the  left  caused  the  whole  to  give  way  for  a  time.  The  troops 
were  rallied  on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  lines  reformed,  and  all  in  readi- 
ness to' resume  the  attack,  when  the  enemy  advanced  his  line  iniine- 
diatelv  in  my  front,  down  the  hill,  with  some  impetuosity.  The  line 
was  instantly  ordered  forward  to  meet  this  charge,  and  the  command 
quickly  responded  to.  The  enemy  was  met  by  a  volley  and  a  charge 
■which  did  much  execution,  his  lin^  broken,  and  his  troops  fled  in  eome 
confusion,  but  as  there  was  no  ci^rresponding  forward  moveuiciit  by 
the  brigades  on  ray  right  and  left,  and  as  the  hill  near  the  rrc't  was 
very  ditiifult  to  ascend,  he  had  tiruo  'either  to  reform  or  to  bring  up 
a  second  line  before  we  reacbrd  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  snciher 
refulse  was  the  consequence.  Tioops  never  rallied  more  promptly, 
and  without  confusion  or  clamor.  On  taking  position  near  the  foot 
of  the  hill  it  was  found  necessary  to  distribute  ammunition,  and, 
while  this  was  being  done,  Colonel  Kelly  came  up  wi.h  liis  1  :izade, 
and  moved  forward  to  the  assault.  The  seventh  Jlississippi,  (.uJonel 
r;-V  '•  commanding,  of  my  brigade,  having  some  ammuniiior.  in  the 
'  r' ;.;/(;  bo.xes,  was  ordered  in  with  Col.  Kelly,  to  strengthen  his  com- 
:;;a:.'i  n.s  much  as  possible.  Soon  after,  two  Florila  regiments,  under 
Colonel  l-  inley,  also  moved  forward  to  Colonel  Kelly's  support.  It 
was  now  nearly  ni;:ht,  and  the  importance  of  completing  the  diy's 
work,  thus  far  fo  hamlsomely  accomplished  by  the  left  wing,  was 
afiparent  to  all.  Kelly  made  a  most  vigorous  attack,  supp  'rted  bB 
above,  and  succeeded  in  occupying  a  portion  of  the  heights  from  which 
he  had  driven  the  enemy.  J*ight,  at  this  time,  put  an  end  to  further 
purtuit.  Every  preparation  was  now  made  for  a  renewal  of  the  con* 
liicl  early  the  next  morning. 

At  eleven  o  clock,  1'.  Jl.,  of  the  2nth,  Major  General  Hindtnaa 
Fint  for  mo  and  turned  over  to  me  the  comin:inif  of  the  division,  which^ 
he  hud  absuuicd  the  evening  previous,  having  received  a  cont  jsioa 


1J7     . 

vhich  JisaVilcil  him  fmm  further  Bcrvico  ^t  th:it  timo,  ansl  here  my 
connection  with  the  brigade  ceased,  the  coninianil  thereof  devolving 
npon  Colonel  J.  II.  Sharp;  of  the  forty-fourth  Mifpissippi  regiment. 
The  light  of  the  nif^rning  of  the  21st  disclosed  tlie  fuct  that  the  enemy 
had,  under  cover  of  darkness.  h.»stily  withdrawn  towards  Chattanooga, 
from  a  field  in  which  he  had  been  eo  severely  but  justly  punished. 

In  the  fir-st  charge,  after  moving  up  to  Genera!  Dcas'  line,  which 
had  been  checked  near  the  base  of  a  range  of  wooded  hill.i  west  of  the 
Chattanooga  road,  the  brigade  captured  three  pieces  of  artillery,  killing 
many  of  the  cannoneers  at  their  guns,  and  taking  others  prisoners. 
A  little  further  on,  and  to  the  left,  the  forty-first  Mi.=«is!-)ppi,  my  left 
regiment,  captured  a  battery  of  five  guns,  among  which  were  several 
fine  riBed  pitces.  Several  stands  of  colors  were  al.io  taken  during 
t1;e  day.  No  note  was  taken  of  the  number  of  prisoners  captured  by 
'■rigade.  They  were  merely  ordered  to  the  rear  without  guard  or 
rt.  Nine  ordnance  wagons,  loaded  with  fixecl  smmr.nition,  several 
culea  and  hor.'cs,  etc  ,  etc.,  were  also  taken  and  turned  over  to  the 
proper  officers. 

T  cannot  close  tbis  brief  recital  of  facts,  connected  with  the  opera- 

'^  of  the  brigade  I  had  the  hrinor  to  command  on  the  jnth,  without 

ifying  to    ihe   officers   and,  troops   my  high   appreciation   of    the 

r,  courage  and  skill  displayed    'iy  them   on   this   memoralde  field. 

:hout  a  single   exception,  so   far   as   my   knowledge   at   this   time 

extends,  they  have  borne  themselves  gallantly  and  added  fresh  laurels 

t"  those  so  nobly  won  upon  the  former  fields  of  Shilch,  Munfordsville, 

•■yville    and    Murfrecsboro'.     To    the    regimental,    battalion    and 

cry  coiiimanders,  individually,  my  thanks  are  due,  f  r  their  zeal- 

.  vigorous  and   unrercitling   efforts,   throughout  the  whole  'lay  to 

e  the  battle  a  decisive  one.   For  instances  of  individu;il  gallmitry, 

picuous  above  others.  I  refer  to  the  reports  of  subord.aate  com- 

iers,  herewith  transmitted. 

I  he  brigade  numbered  one  hundred  and  fifty-fix  officers  aiid  one 

I'and  seven  hundred  and  nine  enlisted  men  on  the  morning  <.f  the 

1  ;  the  loss  vas  five  hundred  and  fifty-eight,  of  whom  eighty  were 

'd,four  bundled  and  fifty-fonr  wounded,  and  twenty-four  missing. 

fing   the  killed   I    regr< t   to   record   the  name  of  Major   John  C. 

f.-irty-fourth    Mitsissippi    regiment.     A    m-.n    of 

n  at  home,  of  an  age  far  beyond  th«t  )  rpt(    :"■<  1  by 

.  - 1  for  involuntary  service,  at  the  f.r'  •  '  war 

he  ehi.'itrd  in  t;  f^  r-inks  and  fought  as  a  private  in  tl:  i^]- 

njont  nnd  i^i.iloh,  having  been    severely  wounded  at,  t:  His 

gallantry  and  services  marked  him  before  the  men  of  his  t^tate  for 
promotion,  which  he  soon  after  received,  and  commanded  hi?  regimeat 
ifith  his  usual  gallantry  at  the  battle  cf  Murfrecsboro'.  On  tli-  I'.erno- 
nble  field  of  the  <.t,ickamaug»lis  devotion  to  tbe  cause  of  b  -  c  luutry 
has  been  sealed  with  the  blood  of  a  patriot. 

I  am,  Major,  very  resj   ctfully. 

Your  ■  '■    '  '  ' '  ■^"■'-  ■•  ♦ 


I 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  L.  E.  TOLK. 

Headquarters  Folk's  Brig  vde,      ^ 
Before  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  October  111,  ISG3   J 

To  Captain  Irving  A.  Blck, 

Assistatit  Adjutant  General  CUhiirncs  Division  : 

Captain:  In  obedience  to  orders  from  division  headquarters,  I 
respectfully  submit  the  following  report  of  tlie  part  taken  by  ray 
brigade,  composed  of  the  following  regiments,  from  left  to  right :  third 
and  fifth  Confederate,  commanded  by  Colonel  J.  A.  Smith  ;  first 
Arkansas,  Colonel  J.  \W  Colquitt;  second  Tennessee, commanded  by 
Colonel  W.  D.  Robinson  ;  forty-eighth  Tennessee,  commanded  by 
Colonel  G.  II  Nixon;  and  thirty-fifth  Tennessee,  commanded  by  Colo- 
nel B.  J.  Hill,  and  Calvert's  battery,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  S.  J. 
Key,  in  the  battle  of  the  19th  and  2l)th  of  September,  on  Chicka- 
mauga  creek : 

Oa  Saturday  morning,  the  19th  of  September,  my  brigade  rested 
in  line  of  battle  on  the  right  of  Cleburne's  division,  wlfich  formed  tho 
extreme  left  of  the  array  of  Tennessee.  About  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I 
received  orders  to  move  in  the  direction  of  the  right  of  the  array. 
The  necessary  orders  were  immediately  gi»cn,  and  my  brigade  com- 
menced moving  down  Chickamauga  creek,  wading  the  creek  at  Tete's 
fcrd,  and,  moving  on,  was  placed  in  position  some  three  hundred  yards 
in  rear  of  Liddell's  division,  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  army.  The 
other  brigades  of  Cleburne's  division  following,  were  placed  in  position 
on  the  prolongation  of  ray  left.  In  this  move,  some  eight  miles,  from 
the  left  to  the  right  of  the  army,  although  e.Npeditiously  performed, 
some  hours  were  taken.  About  five  and  a  half  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I 
received  orders  from  General  Cleburne  to  move  my  brigade  forward, 
to  pass  over  Liddell's  division  in  our  front,  and  engage  and  drive  the 
enemy  before  us.  My  brigade  was  immediately  moved  forward,  and, 
having  passed  Liildell's  division  some  two  hundred  yards,  encountered 
the  enemy  strongly  posted  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  with  temporary  breast- 
works, who  immediately  opened  a  destructive  fire  of  grapo,  canister 
and  siuiill  arms  upon  the  left  of  my  line,  which,  for  a  moment,  caused 
a  delay  in  my  advance.  The  right  of  the  brigade  overlapping  their 
line,  and  finding  little  resistance  in  their  front,  wheeled  to  tho  left 
and  took  tho  enemy  on  the  flank.  At  tho  same  time,  two  batteries  of 
artillery,  Semples'  and  Key's,  having  been  ordered  up  by  General 
Cleburne  between  AVood's  and  my  brigade,  opened  at  short  range 
upon  the  enemy.  Their  lines  gave  way,  and  they  fell  back  in  great 
confusion.  We  continued  to  press  them  till  nearly  nine  o'clock,  when, 
there  being  some  danger  of  firing  into  our  own  men,  we  were  orderc  1 
to  halt  and  rectify  our  lines.  This  ended  the  contest  for  the  night, 
most  of  the  fighting  having  been  done  since  dark.  In  this  engage- 
ment we  drove  the  enemy  seven  miles  and  a  quarter,  captured  over 
lifty  prisoners  and  three  pieces  of  artillery  and  same  number  of  cais- 


C-  ^  /yU        C    /^{  i  r  y<2  //  ^   ^  '/^  ' 


129 

60119.  The  loss  of  the  brigade,  consideririg  the  ho.ivy  musketry,  was 
light,  not  being  over  sixty  men  killed  and  wounded.  We  rested  in 
line  of  battle  the  remainder  of  the  night,  with  a  strong  line  of  skir- 
miithcrB  thrown  sorao  four  hundred  yards  in  front. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  2nth,  our  provision  wagons  were  brought 
up  and  the  men  permitted  to  cat  their  breakfast,  having  been  without 
anything  to  cat  for  twenty-four  hours.     My  brigaile  was  again  ordered 
forward,  commencing  the  move  about  nine  o'clock ;   General    Breck- 
inridge having  placed  his  line  up^n  the  prolongation  of  ray  right,  with 
two  batteries  i,f  artillery  between  the  riiihi  of  my  brigade  and  left  of 
his  division;    caving   to  some  mistakes  I  did  not  receive  the  order  to 
advance  until  a  few  moments   after   Cieneral    Breckinridge's  division 
had  been  put  in  motion.      Immediately  upon  the  order  b'jing  received 
I  moved  my  brigade,  obliquing  slightly  t-o  the  right,  so  as  to  keep 
my  right  connected  with  Goncral  Breckinridge's   left;   the   eneitiy's 
fortifications  running  off  at  right   angles  to    the   rear  of    their  lino 
opposite  the  right  of  my  brigaile,  I  was  not  able  to  recover  ray  imme- 
diate connection  with  his  left  before  I  encountered  the  enemy,  strongly 
posted   in   a  strong   line  of  fortifications,  on    the  crest  of  a  hill ;  my 
line  from  right  to   left  soon   became  furiously  engaged — the  enemy 
pouring  a  most  destructive  fire  of  canister  and  musketry  into  my 
advancing  line,  eo  terrible,  indoed,  that  my  line  could  not  advance  in 
the  face  of  it,  but  lying  down  partially,  protected  by  the  crest  of  a 
hill,  wo  continued  the  fight  some  hour  and  a  half.      Wood's  brigado 
not  promptly  supporting  mo  upon  the  left,  it  was  impossible  to  chirga 
their  breastworks.     My  ammunition  becoiting  exhausted,  by  orders, 
I  fell  back  some  four  hundred  yards,  leaving  a  line  of  skirmishers  in 
my  front  to  oppose  the  advance  of  the  cnctny,  until  my  ammunition 
could  be  replenished.       The  ener.ny  wore  too  much   hurt   to   advance, 
and  were  well  satisfied  to  hold  th'.ir  works.     I  remained  in  this  posi- 
:.  some  hours.     In  this  engagpmcnt  my  loss  was  very  great,  araount- 
j  to  some  three  hundred  and  fifty  killed  and  wounded.     Among  the 
Lumber    was  Captain    W.  J.  Morris,  of  third  and    fifth    Confederate 
TPtriment,  a  brave  and  worthy  officer.     Captain  McKnight.  of  second 
"^  nnessce  regiment,  also  fell  in   these   engagements  in   the  faithful 
harge  of  bis  duties.      Major  Driven,  of  the  second   Tennessee, 
■ivcdamost  piinful  and  serious  wound  in  the  head.    Adjutant  Green- 
d,  of   first    Arkansas,  one  of  the  best  and  most  gallant  officers  in 
army,  fell  mortally  wounded.       Here   also   my  inspector  general, 
ytain    Hugh    S.   Otey,  a    brave   and   faithful  officer,  was  mortally 
inded  by  a  cannon  ball,  from  the  effect  of  which  he  died  a  few  dayg 
after.       My  brigade  remained  here  until  about  four  o'clock,  P.  M  , 
when  I  was  ordered  by  General  Cleburne  to  advance  and  take  up  my 
-ition  npon  the  left  of  Brigadier  General  Jackson.       Arriving  in 
•i   pos^on,  I  found  General  Jackson's   line  advancing;   partially 
ikutclin^ny  brigade  to  the  left,  I  immediately  advanced    with  Jack- 
•ons  brigade,  and  again  encountered  the  enemy  behind  their  breast- 
works, some  five  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of  where  I  enjjaged  them 
in  the  morning.     Again  I  was  met  by  a  terrible  volley  of  grape,  can- 
ister and    small  »rni8,  which   cansed   a  temporary  halt.      Ordtring 
9 


]3i) 

Lieutenant  Key  to  bring  up  his  battery  beneath  the  crest  of  the  ridge, 
■where  my  line  of  battle  was  fighting,  he  replied  that  his  horses  could 
rot  live  a  moment  umler  such  a  fire.  I  then  ordered  him  to  bring  the 
pieces  by  hand,  and,  assisted  by  some  volunteers  from  the  brigade, 
Bucceeded  in  doing  so,  and  opened  upon  their  breastworks  with  double 
charges  of  canister  at  a  distance  of  less  than  two  hundred  yards, 
observing,  at  this  time,  that  the  enemy's  line  wavered,  I  immediately 
ordered  a  charge,  and,  at  four  and  a  half  o'clock,  succeeded  in  getting 
possession  of  their  first  line  of  works,  taking  more  than  two  hundred 
prisoners,  all  of  them  regulars.  The  enemy  fell  back  in  some  confu- 
sion to  his  second  line  and  again  made  a  stand.  About  this  time 
some  batteries  of  artillery,  which  General  Cleburne  had  massed  on  a 
hill  upon  my  left,  poured  so  destructive  a  fire  upon  the  columns  coming 
up  to  support  the  troops  in  the  breastworks,  that,  finding  that  their 
supports  had  been  driven  back,  they  gave  way  and  retired  in  great 
confusion  from  their  second  line  of  breastworks,  and  did  not  stop  a 
moment  in  their  third  line.  I  moved  my  brigade  rapidly  forward  and 
pursued  them  across  the  Chattanooga  road,  reaching  the  road  a  little 
before  dark.  At  this  time  the  firing  had  stopped  every  where,  and  the 
army  of  Rosencranz  was  in  rapid  and  disorderly  retreat  towards 
Chattanooga.  In  this  engagement  my  loss,  though  not  as  heavy  as 
in  the  morning,  was  heavy,  losing  nearly  two  hundred  men.  It  was 
here  that  Captain  Beard,  of  the  third  and  fifth  Confederate  regiment, 
and  Captain  George  Moore,  of  same  regiment,  both  gallant  officers, 
met  their  death.  Here  also  Captain  N.  C.  llockersmeth  and  Lieu- 
tenant A.  J.  Petner,  of  the  first  Arkansas  regiment,  were  seriously 
wounded.     Many  other  true  and  brave  men  also  fell  here. 

During  the  entire  fight  the  men  and  ofiicers  of  my  brigade  acted 
well. 

Among  the  oiEcers  who  were  most  distinguished  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  I  must  mention  the  name  of  Colonel  B.  J.  Hill,  thirty- 
fifth  Tennessee  regiment.  Upon  every  field  in  the  west,  from  Shiloh 
to  Chickamauga,  this  oiEcer  has  acted  with  conspicuous  courage  and 
coolness.     I  earnestly  recommend  his  name  for  promotion. 

Colonel  Smith,  of  third  and  fifth  Confederate  regiment,  acted  with 
his  usual  courage  and  skill,  lie  has  since  been  promoted.  Promo- 
tion could  not  havo  fallen  upon  one  more  worthy. 

Colonel  Robinson,  Colonel  Colquitt,  Colonel  Nixon,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Holes,  and  Major  Pearson   all  deserve  well  of  their  country. 

1  respectfully  refer  you  to  reports  of  regimental  commanders  for 
other  names  distinguished  for  gallantry. 

I  here  return  my  thanks  to  Captain  W.  H.  King,  my  assistant 
adjutant  general,  and  Lieutenant  Suheil,  for  efficient  service  rendered 
upon  the  field. 

A  full  list  of  the  casualties  in  my  brigade  has  already^en  sent 
forward. 

Respectfully, 


L.  E.  POLK, 
Brigadier  Oentral. 


i 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  S.  A.  M.  WOOD 

Headquarters  Wood's  Brigade,      > 
Missionary  Ridge,  Tennessee,  October  9,    1863.  \ 

Captain  Buck,  A.  A.   G.  : 

Sir  :  The  undersigned  aubmits  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  his  brigade  in  the  battle  of  the  19th  and  2itth  of  September, 
186.},  near  Ghiekatnanga  river  : 

The  brigade  consisted  of  the  thirty-second  and  forty-fifth  Missis- 
sippi regiments,  commanded  by  Colonel  M.  P.  Lowry  ;  the  thirty- 
third  Alabama,  Colonel  Samael  Adams;  the  forty-fifth  Alabama, 
Colonel  Brcedlove.  and  the  sixteenth  Alabama,  Major  McGaughey ; 
also.  Major  A.  T.  Hankins'  battalion  of  sharpshooters.  Semple's 
battery  is  attached  to  this  brigade,  but  had  been,  about  the  time  we 
arrived  in  the  field,  directed  by  orders  from  the  division  chief  oC 
artillery. 

At  twelve  o'clock,  on  the  19tb,  the  brigade  was  in  line  of  battle  on 
the  Lafayette  and  Chattamoga  road,  near  where  the  left  of  our  army 
•was  engaged  with  the  enemy.  Orders  were  received  to  march  in 
rear  of  Brigadier  General  Polk's  brigade.  After  moving  in  a  north- 
eastwardly direction  for  four  or  five  miles,  we  approached  the  field 
near  the  right  of  our  army  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  after  crossing 
the  West  Chickamauga  creek  at  a  ford,  the  men  wading.  Thig 
delayed  our  march  in  order  to  close  up,  which  was  farther  delayed  by 
two  batteries  taking  the  road.  The  brigade  was  formed  in  line  as 
follows  :  Right — Hankins,  Lowry,  Brcedlove,  McG.iughey  ;  Adams, 
left.  Brigadier  General  Polk  was  on  my  right ;  Brigadier  General 
Deshler  on  my  left.  At  this  time  Major  General  Cleburne  ordered 
me  to  move  forward,  (the  guide  being  upon  my  brigade,)  and,  if  I  met 
with  any  batteries,  not  to  delay,  but  charge  and  take  them.  I  com- 
municated this  order  to  each  of  my  colonels.  Skirmishers  were 
thrown  out  three  hundred  yards  in  advance.  Firing  of  pickets  was 
all  this  time  going  on  in  our  front,  and  I  heard  it  remarked  that  a 
line  of  our  troops  were  in  that  direction.  The  order  was  nowgiveo 
to  advance.  We  soon  came  to  a  line  of  our  men  lying  down,  which 
we  passed  over.  In  a  few  minutes  our  skirmishers  were  engaged  and 
the  line  pressed  rapidly  to  the  front,  passing  through  a  wooded  and 
slightly  undulating  country,  until  we  reached  the  field.  The  lino 
touched  the  fence  in  a  slight  ravine  or  hollow,  the  ground  gradually 
ascending  in  the  field  in  front.  The  opening  covered  nearly  the 
length  of  my  brigade,  an  1  was  about  two  or  three  hundred  yards 
across.  The  enemy  were  strongly  pofcted  in  rear  of  this  field,  having 
constrnctel  breastworks  of  rails  and  logs.  They  opened  fire,  as  ^iv 
crossed  the  fence,  with  great  rapidity.  The  command  moved  ap 
vigorously  against  a  foe  aJnost  wholly  protected  from  our  fire,  and 
who  delivered  volley  after  volley  into  our  ranks.  When  we  had 
reached  the  farther  side  of  the  field,  many  of  the  enemy  still  remained 


158 

behind  their  defences,  and  shots  •were  delivered   in    twenty  paces  of 
each  other.     In  crossing  this  field  Colonel  Lowry,  of  the  thirty-second 
Mississippi  regiment,  greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his  continued 
exertions  in  urging  forward  his  command.     The   enemy   were  routed 
from  their  defences  and  driven  into   the   woods.     In    advancing  the 
brigade  to  my  right  had  changed  direction  to  the  left,  which  threw  its 
left  in  front  of  my  right  and  prevcnted-Colonel  Lowry's  command  and 
Major  Ilankins'  sharpshooters  from  firing.     I  sent  my  assistant  adju- 
tant general,  Captain  Ta liner,  to  onler  them   to  cease    firing  ;    but, 
before  he  anived,  Colonel  Lowry  had  anticipated  the  order  by  giving 
it  himself.     The  forty-fifth  Alab'ama  regiment,  next  to  the  right,  was 
now  in  advance  of  Colonel  Lowry  and  halted,  ceasing  to  fire  at  this 
time,  as  did  also   the  sixteenth   Alabama,   the    enemy    having    fallea 
back.     The  thirty-third  Alabama,  being   my    left    in  advancing,  was 
pressed  upon  by  the  right  of  Deshlcr's  brigade,  which  1  strove  to  pre- 
vent.    The  direction  of  their  line  being  slightly  oblique  to  mine,  and 
it  being  dark,  some  little  confusion  occurred  as  to  the  positions  of  the 
different  commands,   which  were    soon    rectified.     Skirmishers   were 
ordered  out  in  front  of  the  brigade,  and  then  doybled.     We  captured 
ever  a  hundred  prisoners,  besides  the  wounded  left  on  the  field,    ilost 
ef  them  were  taken  at  the  log   defences,   which    they    said    they   had 
been  instructed  to  hold  to  the  last.     In  no  action  has  this  command 
ever  displayed  more  eagerness  to  .engage  the   enemy,  or   been  more 
successful  in  their  attack.     The  brunt  of  the  action  was  on  theleft 
of  Polk's  brigade  and  across  mine.     He   alone  advanced   through  an 
open  field  and  against  the  defences  of  logs  and  rails.     Other  troops 
had  failed  to  carry  this  position  during  the  day,  as   we  heard.     The 
confusion  which  happened  to  one  of  the  regiments  was  the  result  of 
some  unauthorized  person  giving  a  command  "  to  retreat,"  (see  report 
of  sixteenth  Alabama  regiment,)  and  that  was  soon  rectified  by  Major 
McGaughey.     The  whole  command  lay  upon   their  arms  during  the 
night,  in  line  of  battle.     Semple's  battery,  attached  to  my  brij;ade, 
was  not  under  my  control  during   this   action.     I,  however,  saw    it; 
jilaced  in  position  by  the  division  chief  of  artillery,  and  its  fire   was 
of  the  greatest  service  in  routing  the  enemy  and  silencing  his  batte- 
ries.    On  the  morning  of  the  2iith,  the  troops  were  aroused  at  early 
dawn,  the  line  rectified,  the  skirmishers  in  front  relieved,  and  every- 
thing  made   ready  to   engage   the    enemy.     Ammunition  had  been 
replenished  during  the  night.     Shortly  after   daylight,  a  day's  ration 
of  cooked  provisions  was  brought  up  and  distributed.     The  morning 
was  cold,  and  the  men  were  allowed  to  have  small  fires  and  eat  their 
breakfast.     At  ten  o'clock  I  was  notified  the  line  was  about  to  near  ' 
the  enemy,  and  that  the  movement  would  commence  on  my  right.     I 
had  already  heard  that  it  was  probable   that  ray    brigade    overlapped 
troops  to  ffj  left  not   of   this  division,    and  that  some    irregularity 
existed  in  the  lines  as  formed.     At  a  few  minutes  past  ten  the  brigade 
on  my  right  moved  forward,  and  I   moved   with   it.     Its   left   sooa 
crowded  on  my  right,  when  I  obliqued  to  'Jjo  left  to  give  room.     In  s 
few  moments  it  made  a  rapid  movement  obliquely  to  the  right,  leaving 
ft  gap.     The  brigade  was  at  once  ordered  to  follow  this  moremcut  and 


133 

every  exertion  was  made  to  do  so,  but  we  were  now  under  fire  of 
artillery,  and  had  advanced  but  a  short  distance  when  my  right  was 
within  short  range  of  the  enemy's  rifles.  They  were  hidden  behind 
logs  and  timber,  covered  with  bushes.  The  whole  line,  to  the  right, 
was  now  at  A  halt  and  firing  ;  this  was  followed  by  the  right  of  my 
brigade.  Ilankins'  sharpshooters  and  Colonel  Lowry's  regiment.  The 
Mnjor  General  passed  me  at  this  moment,  and  I  informed  him  that 
my  left  had  passed  over  some  of  our  troops  lying  down  and  were  in 
front  of  them.  The  whole  front  of  the  brigade  to  my  left  was 
covered  by  other  troops,  lie  directed  me  to  see  to  the  left  of  my 
command,  and  said  that  Deshler's  brigaile  would  be  taken  to  the  right. 
The  sixteenth  and  thirty-third  Alabama  regiments  were  ordered  to  lie 
down  on  a  line  with  the  troops  in  the  front  line  to  my  left,  who  were 
also  lying  down.  I  found  Brigadier  General  Bowen  at  the  right  of 
his  line,  and  told  him  that  the  batteries  now  firing  on  us  would  enfi- 
lade me  if  I  advanced  without  a  corresponding  advance  to  my  left. 
He  said  he  had  no  orderi  to  advance,  but  would  send  to  Major  Gene- 
ral Stewart  for  orders.  Major  General  Stewart  came  to  that  position 
and  having  ordered  his  division  forward,  I  immediately  ordered  tho 
forty-fifth  Alabama  regiment,  supporting  my  battery,  up  into  line 
with  the  sixteenth  and  thirty-third  Alabama  regiments,  and  ordered 
them  all  forward.  About  this  time  the  line  to  the  right  had  fallen 
back,  and  the  position  occupied  by  Colonel  Lowry  and  Major  Hankina 
■was  taken  by  Deshler's  brigade.  The  peculiar  character  of  the 
enemy's  works,  represented  by  a  diagram  annexed,  will  show  that, 
whilst  the  right  of  my  command  was  very  near  them,  an  angle  was 
formed  in  its  front  and  the  enemy's  line  was  thrown  back  so  as  to 
give  them  the  cover  of  woods  and  compel  us  to  advance  through  a 
wide  field.  My  brigade  advanced  into  this  field.  The  thirty-third 
•\''i''ama,  under  the  lead  of  its  gallant  colonel,  crossed  the  field  and 
'"hattanooga  road.  The  fire  of  the  enemy  at  this  point  was  most 
ructive,  and  though  this  movement  was  supported  by  Brown's, 
Ciayton's  and  Bate's  brigades,  it  was  not  long  before  all  had  to  return, 
at;d  were  again  assembled  and  formed  at  the  position  from  which  they 
■  advanced.  My  command,  being  the  right  of  the  lino  advancing 
nst  this  returned  line  of  the  enemy,  was  subjected  to  a  cross  and 
'  -•  fire,  which  was  very  severe  on  all,  but  especially  on  the 
Alabama  regiment,  which  was  forced  back  earlier  than  the 
,,>.,  and  thirty-thirl  Alabama  and  reformed  on  Colonel  Lowry'a 
iricnt.  As  soon  as  the  position  of  these  regiments  could  be  ascer- 
•d,  the  sixteenth  and  thirty-  third  were  ordered  to  take  their  places 
in  the  line,  they  being  six  or  eight  hundred  yards  in  advance  on  the 
left.  During  this  movement  Semple's  battery,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Goldthwaite,  followed  the  brigade  and  opened  effectively 
on  the  enemy.  In  the  second  advance  it  was  not  deemed  desirable 
that  the  battery  should  advance  with  the  brigade,  the  batteries  of 
Other  brigades  on  our  left  being  ordered  to  remain  in  position.  After 
reforming  our  line,  a  division  was  moved  to  our  right,  (Cheatham's,) 
»nd  I  received  an  order  to  move  up  to  the  support  «f  Polk's  brigade. 
I  formed  in  lino  with  it,  threw  out  Bkirmishers,  and  moved   to  tb* 


134 

riglt  a  half  mile.  Our  skirmishers  were  engaged  with  the  enemy 
until  nearly  sundown,  when,  General  Polk  having  advanced  and  de- 
siring the  support  of  a  regiment.  I  directed  Colonel  Lowry  to  go  to 
bis  support.     But  the  enemy  had  been  routed. 

In  conclusion,  it  may  be  stated  that  no  command  conducted  itself 
with  more  spirit  or  determination.  By  sub.?equcnt  examination  of 
the  field,  it  was  observed  that  at  no  point  were  the  enemy's  works  so 
Strong  as  in  our  front,  and  the  peculiar  formation  of  his  lines,  which, 
owing  to  the  heavy  timber  and  undergrowth,  could  not  be  ascertained 
by  any  effort  but  an  assault,  subjected  the  command  to  a  very  de- 
structive cross  and  enfilading  fire  on  Sunday.  The  reports  of  the 
colonels  and  commanders  of  batteries  and  battalions  will  show  a  list 
of  casualties.  The  loss,  at  the  time,  in  the  brigade  was  ninety-six 
killed  on  the  field  and  six  hundred  and  eighty  wounded.  Many  have 
died  since,  among  them  four  field  officers  :  Major  McGaughey,  of  the 
sixteenth  Alabama  regiment ;  Major  Carr,  thirty-second  Mississippi ; 
Major  Ilankins,  Ilankins'  sharpshooters ;  Major  Gibson,  Gibson's 
battalion,  attached  to  thirty-third  Alabama  regiment.  These  officers, 
of  the  same  rank,  were  all  distinguished  by  former  services  on  the 
field  of  battle.  They  were  all  of  great  merit,  and  their  loss  will  be 
long  deeply  regretted  by  their  commands.  For  further  particulars, 
reference  is  made  to  reports  of  commanders  of  regiments  and  com- 
panies. 

Very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

y.  A.  M.  WOOD, 
Brigadier  General. 


.RErORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  M.  A.  STOVALjL. 


Headciuartk*s  Stovall8  Brioade, 
Brfclcinridgc^s  IHvision,  Hill's  Corps,  Missionary  Ridge 
October  3,   1&63 


•I 


To  Major  James  WjLf?oN, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  : 

Ma.ior  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
part  taken  by  my  brigade  in  the  action  of  Sunday,  the  2(ith  of  Sep- 
tember, 1863  : 

In  obedience  to  orders  from  hcadqnnrters  Breckinridge's  division, 
of  date  September  16,  1863,  I  moved  from  my  position  on  the  Alpine 
road,  near  Lafayette,  Georgia,  on  the  Catiin"s  Gap  road,  at  or  near 
the  latter  place  on  the  morning  cf  the  17th.  Ilere  I  remained  in 
position  until  the  morning  of  the  ISth,  when  I  was  ordered  to  proceed 
on  the  Crawfish  to  Chattanooga  road.  I  halted  at  the  intersection  of 
the  two  latter  for  about  thirty  minutes,  when  I  marched  to  Pigeon 
ridge,  near  Glass'  mill,  (stopping  and  forming  line  of  battle  for  a  short 
while,  in  the  meantime.)  and  afrain  went  into  position.  I  remained  at 
this  place  until  Saturday,  the  19th,  when  I  was  again  moVed  down  the 
Chattanooga  road  to  Snow  hill.  Skirmishers  had  scarcely  been 
deployed,  aud  the  proper  dispositions  made,  when  I  was  ordered  still 
further  forward  in  a  northeasterly  direction  to  thi  battle-fiebl  as 
reinforcements  to  the  right  of  our  line,  reported  then  to  be  hard 
pressed  by  the  enemy.  This  movedid  not  commence  until  five  o'clock, 
P.  M.  ;  hence  I  did  not  get  into  position  until  Sunday,  the  2l)ih 
instant.  Saturday  night,  the  19th  instant,  we  slept  on  the  edge  of 
the  battle-field,  and  moved  out  into  position  at  four  o'clock,  A.  M., 
the  next  (Sunday)  morning.  We  formed  a  line  of  battle  at  sunrise,  this 
division  being  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  army — ray  brigade  being 
in  the  centre  of  the  division,  and  between  the  brigades  of  Brigadier 
Generals  Adams  and  Helm  respectively.  Skirmishers,  twenty-five 
men  from  each  regiment,  were  immediately  deployed,  under  command 
of  Lieut  Col.  Badger,  of  the  fourth  Floriila  regiment.  Subsequently, 
orders  were  received  to  advance  the  line  thus  deployed,  and  for  a  regi- 
ment to  be  thrown  forward  to  support  them.  In  obedience  thereto, 
1  ordered  Colonel  Borden,  commanding  the  fourth  Florida  regiment, 
to  take  out  his  command  as  the  support  required.  For  the  manner  in 
which  he  manoeuvred  it,  while  in  advance,  I  respectfully  refer  to  the 
acrompanyiiig  report  from  him. 

Bciwecn  nine  and  ton  o'clock,  my  brigade  was  ordered  to  advance. 
I  moved  out  in  good  order,  parallel  to  the  Chattanooga  road,  about  a 
half  mile,  not  without  first  encountering  two  distinct  lines  of  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  and  driving  them  in.  Here  the  brigade  was 
h-ilted  and,  by  a  flank  movement,  formed  nearly  perpendicular  to  its 
former  positioB.  Thus  reformed,  I  moved  forward,  and  bad  not  gone 
far  before    I    encountered   the  enemy  in   heavy   furce  and  sirojgl/ 


136 

entrcDcLeJ.  Here  the  battle  rngeJ  fiercely.  A  concenfrateJ  fire  of 
grape  and  caniiJtcr,  shot  :ind  shell,  of  every  conceivable  character, 
•was  poured  into  us  from  the  front,  while  my  left  sutTered  no  less  from 
an  enfilading  fire  e<)ually  galling  and  severe.  Brigadier  General 
Helm's  brigade,  having  encolintercd  the  enemy's  breastworks,  vras 
unalle  to  keep  up  the  alignment,  wi:ich  taken  with  the  fact  that  the 
reserve  ordered  to  our  support  failed  to  como  up,  and  the  further  f.ict 
that  my  left,  as  ^ell  as  my  front,  was  thus  exposed,  the  brigade,  in 
fact,  the  whole  line,  was  forced  to  retire.  The  troops  of  my  com-- 
mand  full  back  simultaneously,  forming  in  perfect  order,  not  exceed- 
ing two  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  the  position  for  which  they  had 
gallantly  contested.  From  this  position  I  was  still  further  retired 
and  placed  in  position  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  division,  acting  as 
&  support  to  the  command  of  Major  General  William  II.  T.  Walker. 
Here  I  remained  at  rest  f.r  a  few  hours.  During  the  interval,  I  had 
my  cartridge  boxes  all  replenished,  my  command  remaining  quiet 
until  four  o'clock,  P.  M.  About  that  hour  I  wis  ordered  to  move  my 
brigade  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  line.  Again  formed  nearly  par- 
allel to  the  Chattanooga  road,  'i  his  latter  movement  was  ordered  that 
we  might  form  part  of  a  support  to  the  brigades  of  Brigadier 
Generals  Liddell  and  W  althall.  They  were  soon  driven  in,  but  were 
afterwards  reformed  and  thrown  forward  a  second  time.  Just  at  this 
juncture,  I  was  ordered  to  advance.  Changing  my  direction  by  a 
left  half  wheel,  I  was  brought  to  the  enemy's  line.  Thus  in  position, 
1  commenced  the  charge.  My  brigade  pressed  through  two  lines  of 
our  own  troops,  passed  over  the  enemy's  breastworks,  and  with  deaf- 
ening shouts  of  patriotic  enthusiasm,  pursued  the  foe  to  the  Chatta- 
nooga road,  where,  in  obedience  to  orders,  I  h^Ued,  night  putting  an 
end  to  the  conflict. 

I  respectfully  refer  to  the  accomp.inying  st.itement,  marked , 

showing  the  regiment,  name,    and   rank   of  every  officer   and  soldier 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing  ;  also  the  character  of  the  wounds. 

I  am  much  indebted  to  Colonel  Dilworth,  first  and  third  Florida  ; 
Colonel  Borden,  fourth  Florida;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Kay,  sixtieth 
North  Carolina,  and  Captain  Coue,  forty-seventh  Georgia,  who  led 
iLoir  respective  commands  with  skill  and  judgflient.  Also,  to  Cap- 
tain Weaver,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  si.vtieth  North 
Carolina  after  its  colonel  was  disabled.  Captain  J  P.  C.  Whitehead, 
my  assistant  adjutant  general  ;  Lieutenant  A.  J.  Hanson,  and  Cap- 
tain J.  IL  Hall,  (who  was  severely  wounded  in  the  shoulder,)  dis- 
played great  coolness  and  daring  during  the  conflict,  and  to  them  lam 
much  indebted  for  valuable  services  rendered  ;  also,  to  Lieutenant  A. 
Dunham,  ordnance  oflicei',  for  the  promptness  manifested  in  the  dis- 
cbarge of  the  duties  of  his  responsible  office. 

1  Lave  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

M.  A.  STOVALL, 

Jirigadier  General. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  GEORGE  MANEY. 

Headqlarters  Ma.nf.y's  Brigade,      ) 
In  the  Field,  near  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  Oct.  6,  1863.  \ 

Major  James  D.  Porter, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

I  respectfully  euhniit  the  following  report  of  the  part  taken  by  tny 
coraiEand  in  the  battle  of  the  19th  and  2()th  instants,  near  Chicka- 
mauga  creek : 

My  brigade  was  composed  of  the  fourth  Tennessee  regiment,  Colo- 
nel James  A.  McMurry  commanding  ;  the  sixth  and  ninth  Tennessee 
regiments,  (consolidated,)  Colonel  George  C.  Porter  commanding; 
the  first  and  twenty- seventh  Tennessee  regiments,  (consolidated,) 
Colonel  ri.  R.  Field  commanding;  Mancy's  battalion  sharpshooters, 
Major  Frank  Mancy  commanding,  and  a  field  battery  of  four  twelve- 
pounder  Kapoleon  guns,  under  the  command  of  First  Lieutenant  Wm. 
B.  Turner. 

My  command  crossed  Chickamanga  creek  at  Hunt's  ford,  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th  September,  and,  after  proceeding  in  a  northern 
direction  about  two  miles  by  the  fl;ink,  was  fornud  in  line  of  battle. 
I  here  met  General  Liddcll's  command,  which  was  being  reformed, 
after  havirp  been,  as  I  tnderstood,  severely  engaged  with  superior 
numbers.  Passing  forward  of  this  command  towards  the  engagement 
then  pending,  and  which  seemed  to  have  been  tnken  up  by  brigades 
in  advance  of  me,  I  was,  after  some  inconsiderable  halts,  ordered  to 
enter  action  by  relieving  Jackson's  brigide — my  information  at  the 
time,  being,  that  StrahTs  brigade  would  be  in  line  on  my  left.  The 
position  pointed  out  to  me  as  the  one  at  which  I  was  to  relieve  .lack- 
8on"8  command  was  a  ridge  well  wooded,  where  the  right  half  of  my 
command  rested,  but  from  the  centre  to  my  left,  the  timber  on  the 
side  of  approach  had  been  newly  felled  and  presented  some  difficulty 
to  easy  pass.ige  in  line.  In  extension  to  my  kft,  there  was  an  open  corn- 
field— a  narrow  strip  of  woodland  intervening.  My  line  commenced 
engaging  instantly  on  reaching  the  top  of  the  ridge  described,  and  in 
a  few  moiuents  afterwards  I  was  informed  by  a  messenger  from  Gen- 
eral Forrest  that  there  was  nothirgon  the  right  but  his  cavalry,  and 
that  he  was  unable  to  fcustain  himself  against  the  strong  force  of  the 
enemy  which  was  pressing  hira.  Strahl's  brigade  was  not  at  this 
moment  in  line  with  me  on  the  left,  it  having,  as  I  afterwards  learned, 
become  earlier  engageil  and  fallen  back  to  reform.  My  own  line  num- 
bered less  than  one  thousand  guns.  My  battery  was  just  in  rear  of 
i:iy  centre,  but  the  ground  was  not  favorable  to  its  advant-igeom 
engagement.  About  three  buiidred  yards  in  my  rear  there  *as  a  hill- 
top in  open  woods — a  racist  favorable  position  in  many  particulars  for 
a  battery.  Lieutenant  Turner  was  ordered  to  leave  one  piece  in  posi- 
tion, to  be  used  in  a^y  emergency  which  might  arise,  and  rptire  the 
rcmainiDg  three  to  this  hilltop,  and    there  take  fKjsition  and  await 


138 

further  ordfrs.  Some  moments  after  this  I  hearil  a  battery  open  in 
rear  of  the  right  of  my  line,  and  hastening  to  it  I  found  that  Forrest 
had  been  r>rce<i  in  on  my  right.  General  Forrest  in  person  was  with 
the  battery,  which  was  firing  obliquely  to  the  front  and  right,  and,  as 
I  thought,  too  much  in  range  with  two  companies  of  my  right  regi- 
ment, which  had  been  thrown  out  as  flankers  to  this  part  of  my  line. 
General  Forrc?t  was  apprised  of  this  fict  and  requested  to  oblique 
bis  guns  more  to  the  right,  which  he  did  and  continued  firing,  as  ho 
informed  me  the  enemy  was  certainly  approaching  in  force  from  that 
direction.  The  firing  was  now  constant  along  my  entire  front,  and 
the  enemy's  indicated  that  his  line  extended  far  beyond  my  left.  For- 
rest's battery  was  some  protection  to  my  riglit  flank,  and  my  singlo 
Napoleon,  while  it  could  not  fire  with  any  effect  over  tlie  ridge  in 
front,  was  in  position  to  rake  the  open  field  to  the  left  and  rear  of  try 
line,  and  to  this  extent  prevented  the  enemy's  coming  behind  us,  unless 
it  should  first  be  driven  off  by  sharpshooters,  lodge!  on  the  ridgetop, 
under  cover  of  the  woods  between  my  line  and  the  field.  The  action 
increased  in  fury,  especially  on  the  left,  and  I"  was  soon  convinced 
that  my  command  was  greatly  overmatched  in  numbers.  A  staff 
officer  was  sent  with  this  information  to  the  division  General,  and 
another  to  my  left  and  tear  in  search  of  General  Stralil,  with  the 
request  for  him  to  move  up  in  line  with  me  on  the  left.  Tassing 
myself  to  the  ridgetop  to  the  left  of  my  line,  i  discovered  the  enemy 
but  a  short  distance  from  my  left,  advancing  by  the  fluik  boldly  and 
evidently  with  the  purpose  of  pa.=sing  through  this  skirt  of  wood  at 
right  angles  with  my  line,  and  thus  gain  my  rear  and  centre  of  m;^ 
left  flank.  The  emergency  was  critical,  and,  being  without  a  stal 
ofllcer,  I  hastened  in  person  to  General  StrabI,  who  I  fuund  had 
received  my  message  and  was  aligning  for  an  advance.  To  avoid' 
delay,  I  asked  him  to  move  forward  a  singlo  regiment  to  hold  the 
interval  between  my  left  and  the  open  field,  and  he  ordered  his  right 
regiment.  Colonel  Walker's,  and  perhaps  another  to  advance  imme-j 
diately.  This  force  made  a  gallant  drive  forward,  and  the  enemy  gavfl 
way  bifore  them.  I  had,  about  this  time,  received  the  order  to  fal 
back  and  form  behind  Smith's  brigade,  which  was  in  line  with  myl 
guns  on  the  hilltop  in  the  rear.  My  line  was  retired  in  as  good  order 
as  its  shattered  condition  would  admit  of  Before  reaching  Smith's 
line,  I  was  instructed  to  continue  my  infantry  back  to  the  ordnance 
wagons,  for  a  supply  of  ammunition.  The  ammunition  replenished,, 
my  command  again  moved  forw.ird  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  il 
line  with  and  on  the  left  of  the  division,  without  further  engageBieaj 
of  my  infantry  for  the  day. 

My  advanced  gun,  under  the  immediate  command  and  efficient  taani 
agement  of  First  Lieutenant  Smith,  after  covering  the  retiring  lial 
with  .'everal  well-directed  shots  at  short-range,  was  withdrawn  to  th^ 
hilltop  and  took  position  with  the  other  three — the  bittory,  by  orde^ 
of  the  division  General,  being  retained  there  with  the  line  formed 
check  the  enemy's  advance.  The  service  it  here  rendered  in  check* 
ing  and  driving  back  the  enemy's  advancing  line  did  not  occur  undet 
my  immediate  eye,  but  is  reported  as  brillianl  and  decisive.     Thj 


139 

enemy,  pressing  forward  on  wh;it  he  deemeil  our  yielding  lines,  ■was 
met  by  shot  and  shell,  and  then  double  charges  of  canister  belched 
in  quick  succession  from  four  as  good  guns  and.  in  my  judgment, 
as  gallantly  and  efficiently  mmned  and  scrred  as  any  our  service 
can  boast.  Three  times  his  lines  wore  broken  and  shattered  before 
their  deadly  discharges,  and  finally  he  aband  ined,  in  disordered  rout, 
all  efforts  to  capture  them.  The  excellent  comluct  of  Lieutenant 
Turner  and  his  gallant  officers  and  men  on  this  occasion  was  hut  a 
repetition  of  their  services  on  the  fields  of  I'erryville  and  Mur- 
freesboro". 

The  active  engagement  of  ray  command  on  Saturday  wan  about 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  in  duration  and  extremely  severe.  Besides 
being  opposed  on  all  parts  by  largely  superior  numbers,  two  of  the 
enemy's  batteries  were  actively  served  against  it  obliquely  from  the 
right  and  left,  and  ranging  principally  from  the  centre  to  the  kft  of 
my  lines.  The  losa  in  this  engagement  was  heavy,  including  some  of 
the  most  valuable  officers  of  my  commmd.  Colonel  Mc.Murry,  a 
gentleman  of  the  noblest  qualities  and  an  officer  of  fine  abilities  an  1 
great  gallantry,  received  a  wound  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  from 
which  he  has  since  died,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lewis  and  Mijor 
Bralshaw,  of  the  same  regiment,  both  officers  of  great  merit,  were,  in 
quick  succession,  severely  wounded  in  the  gallant  discharge  of  their 
duties. 

In  Turner's  battery  the  loss  of  officers  was  two  of  the  four — First 
Lieutenant  Smith  peverely  wounded  and  Second  Lieutenant  Ingraham 
killed.  Both  these  officers  displayed  great  gallantry.  While  the 
lichavior  of  my  entire  line  was  of  a  character  so  entirely  satisfactory 
and  commendable  as  to  forbid  the  claim  of  superiority  in  conduct  of 
any  one  part  over  another,  the  extreme  left,  held  by  the  sixth 
and  ninth  regiments,  (consolidated,)  was  most  exposed,  and  the 
chances  of  the  day  demanded  of  this  veteran  command  a  bloody 
sacrifice.  It  is  but  a  just  tribute  to  say  the  demand  was  met  by  them 
as  became  heroes  in  many  battles.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
was  over  half  their  number  engaged,  including  among  the  latter  Major 
Wilder  and  many  other  officers  of  excellent  merit. 

On  Sunday,  the  2nth,  my  command  remained  in  line  of  battle,  with 
the  other  brigades  of  the  division,  where  it  had  bivouacked  the  nifiht 
before,  some  half  a  mile  to  the  left  of  the  position  of  my  previous 
day's  engagement,  until  about  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  I  was  ordered 
to  move  by  the  right  flank  about  the  distance  of  a  mile,  when  I  was 
halted  for  a  considerable  time,  receiving,  in  this  position,  some  shell- 
ing, but  sustaining  but  small  loss.  Late  in  the  afternoon  I  was 
ordered  into  line  with  other  biigades  of  the  division  for  a  gBneral 
movement,  as  I  understood,  against  the  enemy's  main  position  near 
the  Chattanooga  road.  There  was  at  this  time  sharp  firing  obliquely 
to  my  front  and  left,  and  about  the  time  I  was  in  line  Brigadier 
General  Polk,  of  Cleburne's  division,  came  up,  asking  for  assistance, 
and  stating  that  his  command  had  gained  a  portion  of  the  enemy's 
breaslwgrks,  but  wag  engaged  in  front  without  support  on  either  flank, 
adding  that  if  I  would  advance  it  would  relieve   him.     I  did  act  feel 


HO 

at  liberty  to  detach  myself  without  instructions  from  my  division 
commander,  but  at  this  moment  discovering  General  Cheatham  a  short 
distance  to  my  right,  I  proceeded  to  him  immediately  and  gave  him 
the  information  just  received  from  General  Polk,  when  I  was  ordered  to 
go  to  Lis  assistance.  On  my  return  General  I'olk  wn.s  not  present  to 
advise  me  of  the  precise  position  of  his  command,  he  having,  I  suppose, 
in  the  meantime  rejoined  it ;  but  remeioberinc  his  remark,  that  I  would 
relieve  him  by  advancing.  I  moved  directly  forward.  This  movement 
brought  me  into  action,  I  think,  some  two  or  three  hundred  yards  to 
bis  right.  The  order  to  advance  was  received  by  ray  entire  line  with 
an  enthusiasm  plainly  telling  that  their  valor  was  more  stimulated 
than  abated  by  their  severe  suffering  of  the  previous  day.  My  line 
was  soon  engaged,  but  the  force  in  front  yielded  and  were  driven 
rapidly  back.  A  fire  was,  however,  opened  on  my  left  flank,  but  the 
giving  way  of  the  enemy  in  front  and  the  continued  rapid  advance  of 
my  line  caused  this  to  cease  and  the  enemy  delivering  it  quickly  aban- 
doned his  position  on  my  left  under  the  impression,  as  prisoners  stated 
to  me,  that  our  movement  would  g.^in  his  rear.  As  soon  as  the  firing 
ceased  I  c(mmenced  reforming  my  line,  which  had  become  consider- 
ably disordered  by  its  rapid  movement  through  thick  woods  and  undcr- 
grovith.  Before  this  was  done  I  was  joined  by  Wright's  brigade, 
which  came  forward  after  me.  It  was  now  some  time  after  sunset, 
and  almost  entirely  dark  in  the  thick  woods.  Skirmishers  and  small 
parties  thrown  forward  for  observation  reported  no  enemy  in  front 
between  me  and  the  Chattanooga  road.  General  Breckinridge's 
entire  command  came  from  towards  my  right,  passing  in  rear  of  and 
almost  at  right  angles  with  my  line.  Under  these  circumstances, 
and  to  avoid  the  danger  of  collision  with  our  own  troops  in  the  dark- 
ness, I  sent  a  staff  utHcer  to  advise  the  division  general  of  the  result 
of  my  movement,  with  the  information  that  I  had  halted  for  further 
orders.  My  staf^'  ofTicer  returned,  reporting  that  he  did  not  find 
General  Cheatham,  but  had  delivered  my  report  to  Lieutenant  General 
Polk,  who  directed  that  1  should  remain  where  I  was.  I  then 
bivouacked  for  the  night  in  the  enemy's  breastworks,  where,  I  under- 
stood, had  been  the  main  position  of  Thomas'  corps.  My  loss  in  this 
engagement  was  light  compared  with  that  of  the  previous  day. 

On  Monday,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  enemy  having  abandoned 
the  field  and,  during  the  preceding  night,  withdrawn  to  Chatta- 
nooga, our  march  commenced  toward  that  point.  We  bivouacked  for 
the  night  on  Chickamauga  creek,  about milos  from  the  battle- 
field. 

Early  Tuesday  morning  we  resumed  the  march,  gaining  the  road 
leading  from  Chickamauga  station  to  Chattanooga,  about  one  mile 
and  a  half  east  of  Jlissionary  ridge.  Advancing  by  this  road,  it  was 
ascertained  the  enemy  occupied  the  ridge,  and,  after  a  short  halt,  for 
the  purpose  of  reconnoitering,  my  brigade,  being  in  front,  was  ordered 
b^'  Major  General  Cheatham  to  drive  them  from  and  take  possession 
of  tho  ridge.  My  line  was  formed  on  the  right  of  the  road  and 
properly  sustained  with  skirmishers.  With  these  dispositions  my 
command  was  advanced  to  tho  attack,  and  after  a  spirited  engagement 


141 

of  a  few  moments  the  enemy  was  driven,  and  the  ridge  top  was  in  onr 
possession.     My  loss  in  this  aff^iir  was  eighteen  killed  ami  wounded. 

Through  all  the  trials  and  dangers  incident  to  their  part  in  this 
memorable  battle,  the  conduct  of  my  command  was  such  as  might 
have  been  expected  of  intelligent  and  patriotic  veterans.  Their  ranks 
bad  been  thinned  on  many  other  fields,  yet  all  were  eager  here  to 
strike  for  the  right  as  though  there  was  no  death,  no  suffering  before 
them,  hut  only  their  cause  to  serve. 

I  feel  it  proper,  in  addition  to  those  whose  good  conduct  has  been 
mentioned  in  connection  with  their  wounds,  to  exproFs  my  thanks  to 
Colonels  Porter  and  F'ield,  commanding  regiments,  and  their  associate 
field  officers.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Buford,  Lieutemnt  Colonel  House 
and  Major  Allen,  for  their  zealous  and  efficient  aid  throughout  the 
engagement.  Also  to  Major  Maney,  commanding  battalion  of  sharp- 
shooters, and  Captain  Bostick,  of  the  seventh  Tennessee  regiment, 
who  commanded  the  regiment  with  gallantry  and  ability  after  the  fall 
of  all  its  field  officers.  Lieutenant  Turner,  commanding  batte^, 
deserves  especial  notice  for  the  effective  and  decisive  manner  in  which 
his  battery  was  commanded  and  served.  I  also  mention  Lieutenant 
Henry,  of  the  battery,  for  his  gallant  and  efficient  conduct.  My  staff, 
Captain  Porter,  assistant  adjutant  general;  Lieutenant  House,  aid- 
de-camp,  and  Lieutenant  Ruble,  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  gen- 
eral, have  ray  thanks  for  their  courage  and  great  assistance  throughout 
the  engagement.  Private  William  Whitthornc,  for  the  time  disabled 
by  a  wound  received  in  a  former  action,  from  carrying  his  musket, 
tendered  his  services,  and  I  must  commend  his  intelligence  and  gal- 
lantry in  conveying  my  orders  to  different  parts  of  the  field. 

Lists  of  casualties  in  my  command  have  been  furnished.     Reports  of 
battalion   commanders    herewith    filed  are   referred  to  for  particulars 
and  for  instances  of  gallantry  in  their  commands. 
Very  respectful!  v, 

GEORGE  MANEY, 
Brigadier  General  commandivg. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  0.  F.  STRAHL. 


Headquarters  Stbaiil's  Brigade,      ) 
Missionary  Ridge,  September  3t),  1S63.  J 

Major  James  D.  Porter,  Jr., 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  Cheathani's  Division  : 

Fir:  On  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  my  brigade,  composed 
of  the  fourtli  and  fifth,  nineteenth,  twenty-fourth,  thirtv-first  and 
thirty-third  Tennessee  regiments,  and  Captain  Stanford's  rifio  battery, 
moved  by  the  right  flank,  in  compliance  with  orders  from  division 
headquarters,  and  crossed  Chickamauga  creek  about  three  miles  below 
Lee  &  Gordon's  mill.  From  this  point,  and  about  the  middle  of  the 
day,  we  moved  rapidly  to  the  right  about  two  miles,  where  we  halted 
and  formed  in  line  of  battle  immediately  on  the  left  of  General- 
Maney's  brigade.  About  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  received  an  order  from 
General  Cheatham  to  move  forward,  which  I  did,  and  took  a  position 
immediately  in  rear  of  General  Smith's  brigade,  which  was  at  that 
time  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  some  two  hundred  yards  in 
front  of  the  position  I  had  taken. 

Shortly  after  taking  this  position.  General  Smith  sent  me  word 
that  he  was  about  to  be  driven  back  and  wished  me  to  come  to  his 
support,  which  I  did  at  once,  moving  forward  over  his  line  to  a  small 
elevation  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  his  front,  entirely 
relieving  him,  and  engaging  the  enemy.  In  a  short  time  after  thus 
engaging  the  enemy.  General  Smith  rode  up  to  me  and  told  me  that 
my  li'ft  flank  was  still  in  rear  of  General  Wright,  and  that  my  right 
fl^uk  was  not  supported  by  any  one,  and  that  I  was  in  a  position  to 
be  flanked  by  the  enemy  on  my  right  unless  I  immediately  moved  in 
that  direction.  Discovering,  however,  that  General  Wright  had 
retired,  and  that  none  of  our  troojis  were  in  my  front,  and  knowing 
the  great  danger  of  attempting  a  flank  movement  in  the  presence  and 
under  the  fire  of  an  enemy,  and  expecting  General  Maney  to  come  up 
on  my  right,  I  did  not  move  in  that  direction  until  General  Smith 
rode  up  to  mo  a  second  time  and  told  me  that  General  Cheatham 
directed  that  I  should  close  the  gap  between  myself  and  General 
Jackson  by  moving  to  the  right.  I  then  concluded  that  General 
Maney  had  been  ordered  elsewhere,  and  I,  theref6re,  immediately 
gave  orders  to  move  to  the  right,  but  had  hardly  commenced  the 
movement  before  the  enemy  met  the  front  of  my  column  with  a  mur- 
derous and  destructive  fire,  enfilading  nearly  the  whole  of  my  line, 
and  moving  in  such  a  direction  as  soon  to  be  in  the  rear  of  my  right, 
if  I  attempted  to  hold  the  position  I  then  Lad. 


14S 

The  position  of  the  two  lines  were  about  as  is  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing diagram :  • 


Mrbrl  Line. 
StTahVs  liripade. 


Therefore,  not  knowing  whether  I  was  to  receive  support  on  my 
right,  and  having  no  time  for  delay,  I  immediately  gave  orders  for  my 
line  to  retire,  and  at  once  moved  back  to  a  position  where  I  hoped  to 
be  able  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  flanking  rae.  I  gained  this  posi- 
tion with  my  left  in  good  order,  ray  right  being  thrown  into  confusion 
by  the  heavy  fire  they  were  receiving,  both  from  the  front  and  on  their 
flank.  The  officers,  however,  all  acted  with  great  gallantry  and  cool- 
ness, and  immediately  rallied  their  men  as  soon  as  they  arrived  at  posi- 
tions where  they  could  do  so  and  not  be  in  immediate  danger  of  being 
flanked.  In  this  movement  we  were  compelled  to  leave  most  of  our 
men  killed  and  wounded  on  the  field,  some  of  which  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  Our  loss  whilst  placed  in  this  unfortunate  position 
was  near  two  hundred,  and  among  that  number  some  rerj  valuable 
and  gallant  officers. 

Most  of  the  field  officers  on  my  right  were  dismounted  by  having 
their  horses  shot  from  under  them,  and  Major  Heiskell,  of  the  nine- 
teenth Tennessee  regiment,  a  very  gallant  officer,  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  foot. 

During  this  short  encounter  with  the  enemy  the  nineteenth  Ten- 
nessee regiment  was  on  my  right,  and  was  therefore  much  more 
exposed,  and  consequently  met  with  a  much  heavier  loss  than  any 
other  in  the  brigade.  But  its  field  officers.  Colonel  F.  M.  Walker  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  B.  F.  Moore,  acted  with  such  coolness  and  gal- 
lantry that  they  inspired  their  men  with  courage  and  confidence,  and 
prevented  that  demoralization  which  might  have  been  expected  under 
inch  trying  circumstances. 

It  was   now,  while  engaged  in  reforming  my  line,  that   General 

ii^y  came  up  and  pressed  the  enemy  hack  for  some  distance  on  my 

t,  and   soon   became   hotly   engaged.     As   soon   as   my  line   was 

rmed  I  moved  forward  to  bis  support,  and  arrived  on  a  line  with 

icft  just  in  time  to  meet  the  enemy,  who  were  aclvancing  rapidly 

.   pressing    his  line   back.     My   three   regiments,  the   nineteenth, 

•y-first  and  thirty-third,  were  thrown  forward    in    advance  of  the 

•    of  my   brigade  and  took  possession   of  a  sniall  skirt   of  woods, 

V  ,.rh  they  held  until  the  line  on   their   right  had    fallen   back  so  far 

:'•  if  they  were  again   exposed  to   a  icvere   enfilading  fire,  when   I 

I  in  ordered  them  to  retire  to  the  position  where  they  had  first  ral- 

i.  in  order  to  prevent  th«  enemy  from  swinging  around  my  right 

1  thus  getting  in  my  rear.     Then  I  reformed  my  whole  line,  but 


]  14 

learning  that  General  Smith's  hiigade  was  in  line  jnst  on  my  right 
and  hut  ft  short  distance  in  mj  rear,  and  being  without  support  on 
cither  flrink.  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  move  back  and  form  on  him, 
which  I  did,  and  remained  in  this  position  until  dark. 

While  in  this  position,  my  battery,  commanded  by  Captain  T.  P. 
Stanford,  for  the  first  time  opened  upon  the  enemy  and  shelled  them 
for  a  short  time,  but  with  what  effect  I  could  not  tell.  The  ground 
over  which  we  had  been  fighting  during  the  afternoon  was  of  such  a 
nature  that  it  would  uot  admit  of  the  use  of  artillery,  and  especially 
cf  a  rifle  battery  ;  therefore,  I  was  compelled  to  meet  every  advance 
of  the  enemy  with  my  infantry  alone,  although  their  batteries  were 
playing  on  me  the  whole  time,  and  from  positions  that  made  their  firo 
very  cflective.  My  battery,  however,  was  at  all  times  immediately  in 
my  rear,  and  ready,  at  a  moment's  notice,  to  go  into  position  had  an 
opportunity  offered  where  it  could  have  been  used  with  eflect. 

About  dark  General  Deshler's  brigade,  which  was  then  in  my  rear, 
was  ordered  to  the  front,  and  moved  forward  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
cover  my  right.  In  a  short  time  after  he  had  passed  me,  going  to  the 
front,  I  was  ordered  to  follow,  and  did  so,  continuing  to  advance  until 
I  came  up  with  his  line,  which  was  an  old  field,  and  near  where  wo 
had  been  engaged  during  the  afternoon.  Here  we  bivouacked  for  the 
night  in  line  of  battle.  . 

During  the  night  our  infirmary  corps  brought  off  many  of  our 
killed  and  wounded  that  we  had  left  on  the  field. 

The  ne.xt  morning  we  were  held  in  this  position  until  noon  or  later, 
when  we  moved  by  the  right  flank  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  army, 
and  was  then  moved  forward  and  placed  in  position  immediately  in 
rear  of  General  Liddell's  command,  and  there  remained  until  the 
morning  of  the  21st,  wlicn  I  formed  on  tlie  right  of  General  Liddell 
and  sent  forward  skinnishers  some  two  miles  and  a  half,  but  without 
discovering  an  enemy,  save  some  few  stragglers,  who  surrendered 
without  making  any  resistance. 

During  the  whole  engagement  my  command  was  almost  continually 
•within  range  of  the  enemy's  cannon,  and,  at  times,  suffered  severely 
from  it. 

My  ordnance  officer.  Lieutenant  Winston,  during  and  after  the 
engagement,  collected  and  hauled  from  the  field  one  thousand  stand  of 
small  arms. 

Several  small  squads  of  prisoners  were  taken  by  my  men  and  sent 
to  the  rear,  but  without  any  account  of  their  number. 

The  company  and  field  officers,  as  a  general  thing,  conducted 
themselves  with  great  gallantry  and  coolness,  and  discharged  their 
duties  in  such  a  manner  as  to  reflect  much  credit  upon  themselves 
and  their  commands.  The  privates  in  the  ranks,  as  usual,  displayed 
that  noble  courage  for  which  Southern  soldiers  have  ever  been  distin- 
guished. 

My  staff  officers.  Captain  J.  W.  Johnson,  A.  A.  G.,  and  Lieutenant 
John  S.  Chapman,  A.  A.  I.  G.,  rendered  me  very  efficient  service  on 
the  field  and  during  the  whole  engagement  manifested  a  zeal  and 
energy  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  that  was  truly  commendable. 


M5 

I  have  already  forwarded  to  you  a  list  of  the  casualties  of  this 
brigade,  showing  the  name,  rank  and  command  of  the  officers  and  men 
killed,  wounded  and  missing  during  the  engagement.  That  report 
shows  our  loss  in  killed  to  be  nineteen  ;  wounded,  two  hundred  and 
three,  and  missing,  twenty-eight — making  the  whole  loss  sustained 
by  the  brigade  two  hundred  and  fifty,  officers  and  men. 

Some  of  the  missing  have  since  been  heard  of  as  wounded  and  in 
the  bands  of  the  enemy.  Many  of  the  wounded  men  were  but  slightly 
injured,  and  will  soon  be  able  to  join  their  comrades.  But  there  are 
many  noble  spirits  who  will  never  return  ;  and  while  we  have  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  our  gallant  dead,  and  sympathize  with  those  who  are  suffer- 
ing from  their  wounds,  yet  we  cannot  but  rejoice  that  the  tide  of 
invasion  has,  for  once,  been  hurled  back,  aud  that  the  faces  of  our 
gallant  and  victorious  soldiers  are  now  turned  towards  their  bomei, 
and  that  a  new  and  unconquerable  spirit  has  been  aroused  throughoat 
our  whole  army. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

0.  F.  STRAIIL, 
BtigaditT  Gintral. 

10 


KEPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  M.  J.  WRIGHT. 

Headquarters  Wright's  Brigade,  Cheatham's  Division,  \ 

Folk's  Corps,  Army  of  Tennessee,  ^ 

In  the  Field,  October  9,  1803.  ) 

Major  James  D.  Porter, 

jissista7ii  ji(]julant  Geniral   C/uatham's  Diviiion: 

Major:  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  tiie  ope- 
ritions  of  my  brigade  in  the  battle  of  Chickauiauga,  on  the  1 9th  and 
20th  ultimo  : 

On  Saturday,  19th  ultimo,  at  half-past  eight  o'clock,  A.  M.,  I  wag 
ordeied  by  Major  General  Cheatham  to  advance  and.  cross  the  Chick- 

amauga  at  a  ford  known  as ford,   following   immcdiatcl}'  after 

Brigadier  Gercral  Preston  Smith's  brigade,  and  followed  by  Briga- 
dier General  George  Maney's  brigade.  Immediately  after  we  crossed 
the  ford  heavy  firing  commenced  in  our  front,  which  was  ascertained 
to  be  an  engagement  between  the  reserve  division  of  Major  General 
Walker  and  the  enemy,  who  was  in  heavy  force  and  was  pressing 
Walker  hotly  with  bis  largely  superior  numbers.  My  briga'le,  after 
crossing,  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  a  field,  in  the  rear  of  Briga- 
dier General  Smith.  I  was  ordered  to  follow  immediately  in  the  rear 
of  Smith  when  he  movetl.  In  an  hour  Smith  moved  in  the  direction 
of  the  battle-field,  anil  we  followed  closely  in  his  rear.  After  moving 
into  a  wood  in  a  direction  inclining  down  the  Chickamauga,  another 
halt  was  made  of  half  an  hour,  when  I  received  an  order  from  Gene- 
ral Cheatham  to  form  in  line  of  battle  and  move  forward  in  a  direction 
nearly  at  right  angles  to  tho  road  along  which  wo  -were  pOsted,  with 
that  brave  and  accomplished  officer.  General  Preston  Smith,  still  on 
my  light  Mancy  being  in  mj  rear  in  tho  line  of  march,  I  supposed 
that  he  would  be  ordered  up  to  the  left.  Indeed,  in  thsact  of  execu- 
ting the  forward  movement  in  line  of  battle,  I  was  informed  by  Gen- 
eral Smith  that  we  were  a  supporting  force  to  Major  General  Walker, 
who  was  supposed  to  be  in  our  front. 

My  brigade  is  composed  of  the  following  regiments,  which  moved 
in  line,  flora  right  to  left,  in  the  order  named:  sixteenth  Tennessee 
regiment,  Colonel  D.  JI.  Donnell,  commanding;  eighth  Tennessee 
regiment,  Colonel  John  II.  Anderson  commanding  ;  fifty-first  and 
fifty-second  Tennessee  regiments,  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  G.  Ilali 
commanding ;  twenty-eighth  Tennessee  regiment.  Colonel  S.  S. 
Stanton  commanding  ;  thirty-eighth  Tennessee  regiment  and  Mur- 
ray's Tennessee  battalion.  Colonel  John  C.  Carter  commanding,  with 
the  b&ttcry  of  light  artillery  commanded  by  Captain  Wm.  W.  Carnes. 
The  men  moved  up  in  splendid  style,  obeying  all  orders  with  the 
alacrity  and  precision  which  is  their  habit  on  parade.  With  the  infor- 
mation I  had  received,  believing  Major  General  Walker  in  our  front, 
I  had  directed  each  regiment  to  throw  out  skirmishers,  and  thus 
guard  against  the  too  lrc<^ueat  and  often  criminal  folly  of  pouring  a 


,-^  •^^r .  r ,/Z^.  ry 


i 


117 

fire  into  the  rear  of  oar  own  comrades  in  arms  when  engaged  against 
a  foe  in  front.  This  order  I  immediately  countermanded  when  it 
became  quite  evident  that  a  most  galling  fire  had  been  opened  by  the 
enemy's  ^Uteries  and  infantry  upon  my  right  (lank  and  a  portion  of 
the  centre.  This  fire  continued  for  some  minutes  before  the  left  flank 
was  engaged,  and  was  the  result  of  my  line  of  battle  being  advanced 
oblifjucly  towards  the  right,  instead  of  being  parallel  to  the  enemy's 
line.  It  was  certainly  due  also  somewhat  to  the  fact  that  the  six- 
tc?nth  and  eighth  Tennessee  regiment.',  extending  their  line  into  a 
corn-field  in  open  view  of  the  enemy,  whose  position  was  concealed 
by  timber  and  undergrowth,  were  compelled  to  advance  into  the  wood 
in  front,  thus  finding  a  better  and  more  secure  position,  and  some 
cover  for  their  men  from  the  murderous  fire  which  they  were  gallantly 
sustaining. 

The  centre  and  left,  however,  soon  became  earnestly  engaged. 
Having  no  eligible  position  for  artillery  near  the  centre,  I  was  com- 
pelled to  post  Carnes'  battery  (Steuben  artillerj)  on  the  left  of  the 
thirty-eighth  Tennessee  regiment,  being  the  extreme  left  of  my  posi- 
tion ;  supposing,  too,  at  that  time,  that  I  would  be  supported  on  th» 
left  by  the  brigades  both  of  Brigadier  General  Maney  and  Brigadier 
General  Strahl.  My  position  was  near  the  foot  of  a  declivity,  gently, 
rising  towards  the  left  and  presenting  on'  that  flank  the  highest 
ground  on  our  line,  and  therefore  the  best  position  for  artillery  ; 
while  that  of  the  enemy  was  on  an  eminence  rising  from  the  drain  or 
low  ground  just  in  our  front,  many  feet  above  ours,  and  protected  by 
works  probably  thrown  up  the  previous  night. 

Immediately  after  the  enemy's  fire  was  opened,  I  despatched  tho 
order  to  commence  firing  to  each  of  the  commanding  ofBcers  of  regi- 
ments, which  was  executed  promptly  and  with  coolness  and  precision. 
I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  effect  of  our  tiring  upon  the  enemy 
was  terrific,  from  the  report  of  a  wounded  officer,  who  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  and  subsequently  escaped,  and  from  a  careful 
survey  of  the  battle-ground  by  some  of  the  men  after  the  action. 

The  enemy  opened  upon  us  a  cross  fire  of  two  batteries  and  a  concen- 
trated shower  of  musket  shot  from  a  greatly  superior  force,  their  line 
exteniing  the  full  length  of  a  brigade  beyonil  my  unsupported  left. 
Our  men  met  the  terrible  fire  which  was  hurled  upon  them  with  con- 
ttancy,  coolness,  and  undaunted  courage,  bearing  the  shock  like  vete- 
rans, and  not  perceptibly  wavering  beneath  its  severity,  and  return- 
ing shot  for  shot  as  far  as  their  inferiority  of  numbers  would  allow. 

After  sustaining  this  fire  for  three  hours  and  a  half — from  twelre, 
M.jto  three  and  a  half,  P.  M., — seeing  that  Brigadier  (jeneral  Smiib, 
immediately  on  my  right,  had  withdrawn  from  the  field,  and  learning 
from  some  of  my  officers  that  their  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted, 
I  determined  to  order  the  brigade  to  retire.  Before,  however,  I  could 
i:\re  orders  to  execute  this  movement,  a  courier  informed  me  that  the 
onemy  was  flanking  my  position,  which,  upon  moving  in  that  direc- 
tion, I  distinctly  discovered,  seeing  hislins  noving  through  the  ravine 
lod  undorgrowih  upon  the  left  flank.  I  then  d^^ipatehed  orders  to  th» 
colonels  and  comoMader  of  the  ba..tery  to  withdraw  to  a  Lill  aboal  a 


U8 

qnarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear.  Discovering  at  this  oppoitnne  Dioment 
a  supporting  brigade  approaching  in  line  of  battle,  and  not  being  able 
to  move  rapidlj  enough  to  communicate  with  the  General  command- 
ing (Brigadier  General  Clayton)  in  consequence  of  my  Utiug  dis- 
mounted, I  requested  the  Colonel  commanding  the  leading  regiment 
to  move  to  my  left  and  protect  the  men  in  retiring,  which  he  did 
promptly  and  efficiently.  At  the  same  time  I  informed  him  that  the 
enemy  was  flanking  our  position. 

Each  of  the  regiments  was  withdrawn  slowly  and  in  good  order. 
Although  all  the  horses  of  the  battery,  except  three,  were  killed,  and 
about  one-half  cf  the  company  shot  down,  either  killed  or  wounded, 
thus  rendering  the  battery  useless  to  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy's 
flanking  force.  Captain  Carnes,  First  Lieutenant  Marshall  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Cockrill,  of  the  artillery,  remained  with  the  battery  until 
they  received  orders  to  retire,  narrowly  escaping  capture,  and  gal- 
lantly standing  at  their  posts  until  the  last  moment.  Second  Lieu- 
tenant Van  Vleck  gallantly  died  at  his  post 

After  retiring  from  the  field  I  at  once  despatched  a  staff  officer  to 
Major  General  Cheatham,  advising  him  of  the  position  of  the 
brigade  and  informing  him  of  the  fact  that  our  ammunition  was 
nearly  exhausted,  which  was  promptly  supplied. 

After  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  brigade  was  again  ordered  to  take 
position  about  four  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of  the  ground  on  which 
we  had  fought  the  enemy.  Major  General  Cleburne's  division  and 
Smith's  brigade,  of  Major  General  Cheatham's  division,  at  about  six 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  on  our  immediate  right,  made  a  most  gallant  and  suc- 
cessful movement  upon  the  enemy's  position,  but  my  brigade  was  not 
ordered  to  participate  in  the  glorious  charge  which  cost  the  lives  of 
many  brave  patriots,  and  among  them  the  heroic  General  Preston 
Smith.  , 

Having  bivouacked  at  this  position  on  Saturday  night,  on  Sunday 
morning  a  line  of  battle  was  again  formed  and  held  steadily  for  three 
hours  under  a  most  harassing  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries.  One 
man  of  the  sixteenth  Tennessee  regiment  was  severely  wounded  by  a 
round  shot.  About  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  was  ordered  to  move  the 
brigade  around  to  the  right  of  our  position,  following  Maney  in  moving 
by  the  right  flank.  About  six  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Maney  being  on  our 
left,  I  was  ordered  to  follow  his  movements  in  line  of  battle.  Major 
General  Walker's  division  and  Brigadier  General  Jackson's  brigade, 
of  Cheatham's  division,  were  already  engaged  fiercely  in  assaulting  a 
fortified  position  of  the  enemy,  at  which  a  very  largo  force  of  his 
artillery  had  been  concentrated.  A  furious  contest  was  raging,  with 
wild  and  terrible  carnage.  Though  the  gallant  troops  of  Walter  and 
Jackson  held  their  position  with  unsurpassed  stubbornness  and  hero- 
ism, yet  the  enemy,  encouraged  by  the  strength,  natural  and  artificial, 
of  his  position,  and  his  concentrated  forces,  was  making  a  most  stub- 
born fight.  At  this  critical  moment  the  two  brigades  (General 
Maney's  and  my  own)  wore  precipitated,  with  a  deafening  hur- 
rah and  a  rapid  shock,  to  support  our  gallant  comrades,  who  were  con- 
tending against  anequal  odds.     The  men  were  io  the  highest  spirits, 


149 

and  moved  forward  with  an  animation  that  I  have  never  seen  eur- 
pasced.  At  this  time  the  scene  was  one  of  the  most  animated  and 
exciting  that  can  he  imagined.  The  whole  issue  of  the  combat  seemed 
suspended  upon  a  moment's  work.  The  shouts  of  our  gallant  patriotB 
presaged  success,  and  every  eye  was  lighted  with  victory.  It  came 
at  that  propitious  moment.  Tbe  enemy,  already  daunted  hy  the  fierce 
ordeal  through  which  they  had  pa.ssed  from  the  guns  of  Walker  and 
Jackson,  could  no  longer  bear  the  trial  when  the  cheers  of  our  rein- 
forcing battalions  were  wafted  to  them  on  the  evening  breeze.  They 
broke  in  hopeless  confusion  and  rout,  precipitately  fled  before  our 
pursuing  columns,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  behind  them  and 
several  pieces  of  thejr  artillery.  Although  my  brigade  did  not  reach 
the  position  in  time  to  fire  but  a  very  few  guns  from  the  thirty-eighth 
Tennessee  regiment,  yet  it  is  a  source  of  heartfelt  satisfaction  that 
the  cheers  of  the  men  and  their  impetuous  charge  assisted  in  striking 
terror  into  the  heart  of  the  foe  and  in  hastening  his  inglorious  flight. 
In  this  engagement  and  that  of  Saturday,  the  brigade  captured 
seventy-one  prisoners,  including  a  captain  and  t-;vo  lieutenants.  The 
loss  in  the  brigade  was  forty-four  killed  on  the  field,  forty  three  mis- 
sing, (most  of  whom  are  known  to  be,  and  the  others  are  supposed  to 
be,  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.)  and  four  hundred  wounded. 

Among  the  killed  I  regret  to  mention  Captain  Parks,  sixteenth 
Tennessee  regiment ;  Lieutenant  Ilainey,  Murray's  battalion,  attached 
to  the  thirty-eighth  Tennessee  regiment ;  Lieutenant  Wade  and  Color- 
bearer  Bland,  of  the  fifty-first  anl  fifty- second  Tennessee  regiments; 
Captain  Whaley  and  Lieutenant  Craig,  of  the  twenty-eighth  Tennes- 
see regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Van  Vleck,  Carncs'  battery.  Among 
the  wounded  were  Colonels  John  II.  Anderson  and  D.  M.  Donnell, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  G.  Hall,  and  Major  T.  G.  Randle  ;  Captains 
Puryear,  Callom,  and  Bonds,  and  Lieutenants  Cunningham,  Leonard, 
Flynn  and  Shaw,  eighth  Tennessee  regiment;  Lieutenants  Potter, 
Owen  and  Worthington,  sixteenth  Tennessee  regiment ;  Captain 
McDonald,  and  Lieutenants  Apple,  Dauley  and  Taylor,  twenty-eighth 
Tennessee  regiment;  Adjutant  Caruthers,  Lieutenants  Banks  and 
Ridout,  thirty-eighth  Tennessee  regiment,  and  Captain  Burton,  Lieu- 
tenants Billings,  Chester,  White,  Ilainey,  Tillman  and  Wade,  fifty- 
first  and  fifty-second  Tennessee  regiments.  All  the  field  officers  of  the 
brigade,  and  the  officers  of  the  battery,  acted  with  such  distinguished 
gallantry  that  I  feel  it  would  be  invidious  to  make  a  distinction. 
Company  officers  and  men,  wrth  very  inconsiderable  exceptions  that 
.have  come  to  my  knowledge,  bore  themselves  with  a  gallantry  and 
•tcadincsB  becoming  patriots  contending  for  freedom  and  all  that  hon- 
orable men  hold  dear. 

I  am  indebted  for  valuable  assistance  during  the  engagement  to  mj 
stair  officers.  Captain  Leon  Trousdale,  assistant  adjutant  general, 
Captain  E.  F.  Lee,  assistant  inspector  general,  my  aids-de-carap. 
Lieutenant  £.  T.  Harris,  and  Lieutenant  Sidney  Womack,  and  Mr. 
Charles  T.  Smith.  They  each  discharged  their  r.nties  with  fidelity 
and  teal.  One  of  my  couriers,  Mr.  William  9.  IIill,  won  the  com- 
mendation of  all  and  my  warm  (banks,  for  bia  gallantry  and  alacrity 


150 

in  the  discharge  of  his  perilous  duties.  Brigadier  General  W.  C. 
Wbitthorne,  adjutant  general  of  Tennessee,  volunteered  to  act  as  aid- 
de-camp  on  the  first  day's  march  from  Chattanooga,  and  discharged 
the  various  duties  that  I  assigned  to  him  with  a  promptness,  courage 
and  ability  which  merit  and  receive  my  warmest  thanks.  On  the 
field  General  Whitthorne  conducted  himself  with  conspicuous  gal- 
lantry. The  infirmary  corps  discharged  their  duties  with  such  fear- 
leBsnossand  fidelity  as  to  attract  my  special  observation.  The  provost 
guard  also,  under  their  worthy  and  gallant  provost  marshal,  Lieuten- 
ant Richardson,  fully  fulfilled  the  standard  of  their  duties.  They  lost 
one  killed  and  two  wounded  in  the  engagement  of  Saturday. 

I  unite  with  all  true  patriots  of  our  country  in  returning  thanks  to 
Almighty  God,  without  whose  assistaace  our  strength  is  weakness,  for 
the  substantial  vifitory  with  which  he  has  crowned  our  efforts. 

I  herewith  transmit  the  reports  of  the  regimental  commanders  of 
the  brigade,  to  which  your  especial  attention  is  respectfully  invoked. 

I  regret  I  cannot  accompany  them  with  the  report  of  Captain  Carnes, 
commanding  battery,  whose  absence  on  business  connected  with  hi^ 
battery  necessarily  delays  its  preparation. 

I  have  tho  honor  to  be,  Major,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 
MARCUS  J.  WRIGHT} 

Brigadier  General. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  J.  K    JACKSON. 

IlKiDQUARTERS    JaCKSOn's    BrIGADE,     ChEATHAM's    DIVISION,  J 

Polk's  Corps,  Army  of  Ttnncssee,      > 
Before  Chattanooga,  October  3,   1863.  ) 

Major  JoiiN  I.vcram, 

A    A.   G.  Cheatharris  Divinon,  Folk's  Corps,  A.    T.  : 

Major:  On  the  I9th  September,  1863,  at  about  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  the  brigsile  wliich  I  have  the  honor  to  comman'l.  being 
the  advance  of  Major  General  Cheatham's  division,  crossed  Chicka- 
manpa  creek  at  Hunt's  or  Dalton's  ford,  about  a  mile  below  Lee  & 
Gordon's  mill  The  brigrido  wns  imracdialelj  deployed  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  and  awaited  the  crossing  bj  the 
lemainder  of  tf  e  division. 

At  about  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  moved  hx  the  flank  in  a  northwestern 
direction  and  formed  line  in  the  rear  rf  Major  General  Buckner's 
right,  as  his  reserve.  Remained  in  this  position  about  an  hour,  when 
an  order  was  rereivcd  to  move  still  further  to  the  light  to  the  support 
of  Major  General  Walker.  Passing  rapidly  about  iulf  a  mile  north- 
ward by  the  right  flink,  the  brigade  reached  the  road  leading  from 
Alexander's  bridge,  and  proceeded  thence  westward  about  half  a  mile. 
Here  the  line  of  .Major  General  Walker's  troops  was  reached.  My 
brigade  was  immediately  placed  in  line  of  battle  and  ordered  to 
tdvance.  The  order  was  promptly  and  cheerfully  obeyed,  and  the 
advance  continued  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  when  the  enemy 
opened  fire  upon  ray  left  and  centre.  The  brigade  returned  the  fire, 
which  so^n  became  general.  A  charge  being  ordered,  the  troops 
responded  with  great  intrepidity,  driving  the  enemy  before  thera  from 
a  half  to  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery, 
which  were  immediately  sent  to  the  rear ;  also,  a  large  number  of 
knapsacks,  from  which  the  enemy  had  been  driven. 

At  this  point  the  enemy,  being  heavily  reinforced  and  having  the 
advantage  of  breastworks,  checked  the  advance  of  the  brigade  and 
Btubbornly  held  their  ground. 

Seeing  troops  on  the  left  retiring.  I  sent  to  enfjuire  the  meaning  of 
it,  and  was  informed  that  it  was  part  of  Brigadier  General  Preston 
Smith's  brigafle,  which  bail  been  pressed  back  by  superior  numbers, 
thus  leaving  ray  left  flank  entirely  exposed.  Soon  after  ray  left  fell 
back,  under  the  false  impresxion  that  a  retreat  had  been  ordered,  but 
were  immediately  rallied  and  reformed,  and  promj'tly  retook  their 
original  position.  Learning  th«t  the  enemy  were  ende  ivoring  to  turn 
my  right,  which  wag  not  protected  by  any  infantry  force,  and  the  left 
being  exposed  and  nearly  ont  of  ammunition,  I  sent  a  "taff  oflicer  to 
request  IJrigadier  General  Maney,  whoce  brigade  was  in  reserve,  to 
corae  to  my  relief.  The  contest  bad  now  lasted  for  about  two  hours, 
and  bad  been  unasnally  severe.     My  battery,  commanded  by  Captain 


152 

John  Scopin,  had  moved  up  with  the  line  and  tlone  good  service 
Brigadier  General  Manej's  brigade  moved  forward  gallantly,  and, 
upon  being  relieved  by  him,  1  ordered  my  brigade  to  retire,  which 
was  done  slowly  and  in  good  order. 

While  moving  to  the  rear  the  horses  of  one  piece  and  one  caisson 
were  disabled,  and  consequently  that  piece  and  caisson  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  but  were  subsequently  recovered.  Line  of  battle 
was  formed,  again,  in  the  position  occupied  before  the  advance  and 
on  the  right  of  Turner's  battery.  My  battery  was  so  posted  as  to 
have  a  cross  fire  in  front  of  Turner's  battery.  The  enemy's  advance 
npon  us  was  checked  at  this  point.  . 

A  little  before  dark-Mijor  General  Cleburne,  having  formed  a  line 
on  my  right,  making  an  obtuse  angle  with  mine,  commenced  a  for- 
ward movement,  and  about  the  same  time  an  order  was  received  from 
Major  General  Cheatham  to  move  up  my  brigade  also,  which  was 
promptly  done. 

The  fire  of  small  arms  immediately  became  very  severe.  The  left 
of  my  brigade,  thinking,  in  the  darkening  twilight,  thSt  Major  Gene- 
ral Cleburne's  line  was  in  their  frcnt,  became  a  little  confused  by  the 
suddenness  and  severity  of  the  fire,  but  were  soon  brought  up  and 
the  whole  line  advanced  about  six  hundred  yards.  Here  the  firing 
abruptly  ceased,  and,  it  being  now  quite  dark  and  the  impression 
BtiU  prevailing  that  our  friends  were  in  frout,  Mnjor  W  D.  C.  Lloyd, 
my  volunteer  aid-de-camp,  and  Lieutenant  S.  S.  Harris,  acting 
inspector  general  of  my  brigtule,  rode  forward  to  ascertain  the  facts, 
when  Major  Lloyd  rode  into  the  enemy's  lines  and  was  captured. 

My  brigade  h^ul  moved  in  Majnr  General  Cleburne's  line,  with 
Brigadier  Geneial  Deshler's  brigade  on  its  left.  About  nine  o'clock 
at  night,  in  order  to  allow  Brigadier  General  Deshier  to  close  upon 
his  own  division,  1  ordered  my  brigade  to  retire  to  its  original  posi- 
tion, where  it  remained  until  morning. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  2i)th  instant,  in  pursuance  of  orders  from 
Major  General  Cheatham,  I  moved  by  the  left  flank  about  iialf  a  mile 
and  took  position  as  a  reserve  in  the  rear  of  Brigadier  General 
Maney's  brigade.  Remaining  there  until  about  eleven  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  I  moved,  by  order,  back  to  my  original  position.  Here  an  order 
was  received  from  General  Bragg,  through  Major  Falconer,  assistant 
adjutant  general,  to  move  at  once  with  my  brigade  to  the  right  and 
frout  and  report  to  Lieutenant  General  Hill.  I  moved  promptly  by 
the  right  flank  and  sent  Captain  Merino,  my  assistant  adjutant  gene- 
ral, and  Lieutenant  Harris  to  find  Lieutenant  General  Hill.  They 
returned,  reporting  their  search  unsuccessful.  At  this  point.  Lieu- 
tenant General  Polk  ordered  me  to  take  position  on  the  right  of 
Brigadier  General  I'olk  and  to  move  forward  at  once.  Deeming  it 
proper,  in  pursuance  of  the  order  of  the  commanding  General,  to 
report  to  Lieutenant  General  Hill  for  orders,  I  moved  still  further  by 
the  right  fiank  and  to  the  right  of  Brigadier  General  Polk's  brigade, 
and  sent  again  to  Lieutenant  General  Hill,  who  directed  that  my 
brigade  should  take  position  on  Brigadier  General  Liddell's  left  and 
fill  up  a  gap  between  that   brigade   and   Major   General   Cleburne's 


153 

right.  A  Btaff  officer  of  Lieutenant  General  Hill  having  indicated 
the  position  ray  brigmle  was  to  take,  it  was  moved  forward  some  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards,  when  the  commanding  ofEcer  of  my  sharp- 
shooters reported  skirmishers  of  the  enemy  in  heavy  force  on  ray  left 
and  opposite  the  gap  on  Major  General  Cleburne's  right,  which  my 
brigade  was  insufficient  to  fill.  I  directed  two  additional  companies 
to  be  deployed  as  skirmishers,  with  orders  to  the  five  companies,  con- 
sisting of  my  battalion  of  sharpshooters  and  these  two  companies,  to 
dislodge  the  enemy.  After  considerable  skirmishing,  Major  Whitely, 
of  my  battalion  of  sharpshooters,  reported  that  ho  could  not  dislodge 
the  enemy  ;  that  they  were  in  strong  force,  and  supported  by  a  line 
of  brittle  and  a  battery. 

I  immediately  reported  these  facts  to  Lieutenant  General  Hill,  and 
that  if  I  advanced,  the  gap  not  being  filled  up,  my  left  flank  would 
be  exposed  to  an  enfilading  fire.  He  sent  me  an  order,  nevertheless, 
to  form  on  Brigadier  General  Liddell's  left  and  move  forward  with 
his  line.  This  order  was  promptly  executed.  The  brigade,  with  the 
battery  in  the  centre,  moved  forward  in  splendid  style  about  one 
hundred  yards,  when  the  enemy  opened  a  galling  fire  from  the  front 
and  left  flank,  enfilading  the  entire  line,  with  canister  and  small  arms. 
The  engagement  now  became  terrific,  and  the  position  of  my  brigade 
extremely  critical.  The  troop?,  however,  stood  nobly  to  the  work 
before  thorn  and,  steadily  advancing,  Burraounted  the  hill  on  which 
the  enemy's  breastworks  were,  the  battery  moving  with  the  line  and 
rendering  efl'ective  service.  The  enemy  were  driven  from  their 
breai-tworks,  and  Brigadier  General  Maney's  brigade,  coming  up  at 
this  opportune  moment,  charged  them,  and  the  contest  was  over.  At 
daylight  on  Monday  rooming  the  enemy  was  found  to  have  sought 
saf-^ty  in  flight,  under  the  cover  of  darkness. 

The  report  of  my  provost  marshal  shows  the  capture  of  seventy- 
four  prisoners,  (not  including  wounded  men,)  representing  twenty-two 
regiraentB,  and  from  five  States. 

I  annex  a  list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing  of  my  command, 
which  was  composed,  from  right  to  lef^  as  follows  :  Second  Georgia 
battalion  sharpshooters,  eighth  Mississippi  regiment,  fifth  Mississippi 
regiment,  Scogin'e  battery,  second  battalion  of  first  Confederate  regi- 
ment, and  the  fifth  Georgia  regiment. 

The  total  effective  was  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-six  ; 
the  aggregate  effective,  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  five  ;  loss, 
four  hundred  and  ninety  ;  from  which  it  will  be  perceived  that  the 
per  centage  of  casualties  was  34  fi"!,  and  that  the  greatest  loss  was  in 
the  fifth  Georgia  regicicnt,  amounting  to  nearly  55  per  cent. 
I  am,  Major,  respectfully,  &c., 

JOHN  K.  JACKSON, 
Brigadier  General  commanding  Biigade. 


154 


TABULAR  STATEMENT  of  the  Casualties  of  Jocksais  Brigade. 
Cheatham's  JJit'ision,  PoUc^s  Corps,  Army  of  T'enncssee,  on  the  lt)^. 
and  iK)th  September,   1863,  in  the  battle  of  C/tickamauga. 


BrigNflier  Uoner&l  and   Staflf 

Ilalialion  or  Sbarpsboatcn!  

EiRhtfa  MUiiisfiiipi  n.'giinuDt 

Fiilb  Mi.'^siesippi  regiment , 

Sc<>gio*f  battery 

Bcc'jttd  battaliun  Firtit  Cuafederato  rogimont. 
Vlftli  (Jenrfpa  regiment 


Total ']2««  Uns      55    <.I0        sl  490  31  87  avera?. 


S  Pkr    Cp.hti< 


1  20.IIU 
SO  27.:? 
94  n  28 
76  2;i.79 
l:i  It.tiO 
M  42.78 
104i4.94 


JOHN  K.  JACKSON, 
Biigadier  Gencrd  cuinmnnding. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  A.  GRACIE. 

IlEADQUARTcns  Gracie's  Brigadr,      ) 
In  front  of  Cfiathmooga,  October  2,  1863.  J 

To  J.  L.  SvNFORn, 

Aisistant  Adjxdant  General : 

Captain:  I  have  the  honor  of  herewith  forwarding  the  report  of 
the  operation?  of  my  brigade,  composed  of  the  sixty-third  regiment 
Tennessee  volunteers,  I.ientenant  Colonel  A.  Fulkcrson  coraroamling; 
fortv-third  regiment  Alabama  volunteers.  Colonel  Y.  M.  Moody  com- 
m.'inding  ;  first  battalion  Abibama  legion.  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  II. 
Holt  commanding;  second  battalion  Alabama  legion,  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel B.  Hall,  Jr.,  commanding  ;  third  battalion  Alabama  legion,  Lieu- 
ten»nt  Colonel  J.  W.  A.  Sanford  commanding,  on  the  days  of  the 
19th  and  2(lth  September,  1.S63. 

Taking  position  on  the  evening  of  the  ISth  instant  at  Dalton's  ford, 
on  Chickamau/^  river;  early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  brigade 
formed  its  first  line  of  battle,  facing  the  enemy's  works,  near  Lee  iV 
Gordon's  mill.  It  was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  sh(dl. 
wounding  Lieutenant  Lane  and  others  of  the  sixty-third  Tennessee 
regiment.  Farther  than  this  the  brigade  was  not  engaged  in  this  day's 
fight. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2nth,  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  near  Dyer's 
house,  on  the  Chattanooga  road,  where,  again  forming  line  of  battle, 
it  again  received  the  fir^  of  the  enemy's  shell.  Between  four  and  five 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  orders  were  received  to  support  Kershaw's  brigade, 
posted  to  the  left  of  the  Chattanooga  road.  Word  was  sent  to  Gene- 
ral Kershaw  that  the  brigade  was  ready,  and  he  ordered  it  to  advance. 
Pasfing  through  Kershaw's  command,  the  brigade  found  itself  suddenly 
in  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  strongly  posted  behind  breastworks  of 
logs  and  rails,  on  the  crest  of  an  opposite  hill.  The  fire  of  musketry, 
grape  and  canister  immediately  commenced,  but,  undaunted,  the  brigade 
scaled  the  precipitous  heights,  driving  the  enemy  before  it,  and  took 
posses.<!ion  of  the  hill.  Holding  these  heights  for  nearly  an  hour,  and 
ammunition  becoming  scarce,  I  informed  Brigadier  General  Preston, 
commanding  division,  that,  unless  supported,  the  brigade  could  not 
much  longer  hold  out.  Trigg's  and  Kelly's  brigade?  were  ordered 
to  my  relief.  Though  with  ammnnition  nearly  exhausted,  the  brigade 
held  its  own  till  the  scattering  fire  of  its  musketry  betrayed  its  con- 
dition to  the  enemy.  Trigg's  and  Kelly's  brigades  arriving,  the  com- 
Bjan  1  withdrew  to  replenish  its  enipty  cartiidgb  boxes. 

Early  the  next  morning  the  brigade  resumed  the  position  it  had  80 
nobly  won.  The  number  of  killed  and  wounded,  shows  the  depperate 
nature  of  the  cnntest ;  of  about  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy  carried 
into  action,  nine<y  were  killed  and  six  hundred  and  fifteen  wounded. 

Where  so  many  distinguished  themselves  it  would  be  difficult  to 


156 

particularize  ;  all  nobly  did  their  duty.  I  would,  however,  call  atten- 
tion to  the  following  named  officers  :  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  Fulker- 
son,  sixty-third  regiment  Tennessee  volunteers,  who,  in  the  absence 
of  the  colonel,  commanded  the  regiment  and  led  it  into  action;  to  him 
it  owes  its  discipline  and  its  efficiency.  Colonel  Fulkerson  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  arm,  making,  with  the  one  received  at  Shiloh, 
the  second  during  the  war.  Ho  is  deserving  of  a  much  higher  position. 

Colonel  Y.  M.  Moody,  of  the  forty-fifth  Alabama  regiment,  always 
at  the  head  of  his  regiment  on  the  march,  maintained  the  same  posi- 
tion on  the  field,  rallying  and  encouraging  his  men. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  J.  Jolly,  of  the  same  regiment,  though 
seriously  wounded  in  the  thigh,  remained  on  the  field  until  no  longer 
able  to  walk,  and  then  had  to  be  carried  ofl'. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  H.  Holt,  of  the  first  battalion  Alabama  legion. 
This  battalion  sustained  the  heaviest  loss  ;  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
nnie  carried  into  action,  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  were  killed  and 
wounded;  among  the  latter  was  Lieutenant  Colonel  Holt,  seriously,  in 
the  knee.  * 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Boiling  Hall,  commanding  second  battalion 
Alabama  legion.  It  was  this  battalion  that  first  gained  the  hill  an<l 
placed  its  culors  on  the  enemy's  works.  Its  colors  bear  marks  of  over 
eighty  bullets.  Its  bearer,  Robert  Y.  Iliett,  though  thrice  wounded 
and  flitg-stafi"  thrice  shot  a.vay,  carried  his  charge  throughout  the  en- 
tire fight.     He  deserves  not  only  mention  but  promotion. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Hall  behaved  most  gallantly,  receiving  a  severe 
wound  in  the  thigh. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  John  W.  A.  Sanford,  commanding  the  third 
battalion  Alabama  legion,  and  Jlajor  McLennan,  commanding  the 
fourth  battalion  Alabama  legion,  nobly  did»  their  duty,  sustaining 
heavy  loss,  both  in  officers  and  men.  Captain  W.  B.  Walton,  company 
B,  eecoud  battalion  Alabama  legion,  was  wounded  in  the  breast,  arm 
and  fhoulder,  inside  the  enemy's  works.  His  case  deserves  special 
mention.  Assistant  Surgeon  James  B.  Luckie,  of  the  third  battalion 
Alabama  legion,  both  in  the  field  and  at  the  hospital,  was  most  attentive 
to  the  wounded,  as  indeed  were  all  the  medical  officers  of  the  command. 
Captain  H.  E.  .Jones,  my  assistant  adjutant  general,  was  most  con- 
spicuous for  coolness  and  gallantry,  carrying  orders  into  the  thickest 
of  the  fight;  he  was  more  exposed  than  any  one  in  the  field.  Also  my 
aid-de-camp,  Lieutenant  E.  B.  Cherry.  I  am  happy  to  state  that, 
though  both  these  officers  had  their  horses  shot  under  them,  both 
cpcaped  unhurt.  To  Lieutenant  J.  N.  Gilmer,  adjutant  of  the  Ala- 
bama legion,  who,  during  the  absence  of  its  commander,  has  acted  aa 
my  A.  1.  General,  and  to  Messrs.  George  C.  Jones  and  J.  T.  Harwell 
(both  wounded)  my  thanks  are  due  for  services  rendered.  Major  E. 
L.  Hord,  my  quartermaster,  who  so  completely  equipped  my  brigade, 
was  constantly  at  his  post,  performing  his  onerous  duties.  Major  C. 
D.  Brown,  my  Commissary,  who,  by  untiring  energy,  kept  the  brigade 
ctnstantly  supplied  with  cooked  rations.  My  thanks  are  also  due  to 
Lieutenant  A.  M.  MacMurphy,  my  efficient  ordnance  officer. 

Among  the  uoble  dead  I  have  to  record  the  names  of  Captain  James 


157 

T.  Gillespie  and  Lieutenant  S.  M.  Deadrick,  company  I,  sixty-third 
Tennessee  regiment;  Captains  0.  II.  Prince,  company  A,  and  J.  A. 
r.  Gordon,  company  C,  Lieutenant  Wm.  II.  Watkins  company  B, 
forty-third  Alabama  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  R.  II.  Bibb,  of  the  firat 
battalion  Alaban  a  legion. 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  GRACIE,  Jr  , 
BrKadier  GenercU. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL   II.  D.  CLAYTON. 

IIeadquartf.rs  Clayton's  Bihgade,      ) 
Near  Chattanooga,  October  3,   1863.  J 

M«ior  R.  A.  IIatcker, 

Assinlaiit  AdjiUant  General  StevcarVs  Division  : 

Major  :  The  following  report  of  the  part  taken  by  this  brigade  in 
the  battle  of  Chickam;iuga  on  the  IDih  and  2iith  of  September,  18G3, 
is  respectfully  submitted  : 

On  Thursday,  the  I7ib  day  of  September,  this  brigade,  consisting 
of  the  eighteenth,  thirty-sixth,  and  thirty-eighth  Alabama  regiiuent.i, 
.■ommandcd  respeetively  by  Colonel  J.  T.  lloltzclaw.  Colonel  L.  T. 
Woodruff,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  R.  Lankford.  and  Iluini^ries' 
battery,  took  up  the  line  of  march  from  Lafayette,  Walker  county, 
Ceorgiii,  where  it  had  been  bivouacked  a  few  days,  towards  the  battle- 
field Resting  the  night  of  the  17th,  near  Rock  Spring,  it  pro(-eeded 
the  next  day  to  Thcdf  rd's  ford  on  the  Chickaiiiauga  creek.  Briga- 
dier General  Bate's  brigade  proceeding  down  the  creek  a  short  dis- 
tance, his  artillery  engaged  the  enemy,  who  were  then  near 
.Mcxander's  bridge,  my  brigade  being  exposed  to  the  fire  by  wiiich  I 
lost  one  man  killed.  I  advanced  three  coinphnies  from  tho  eighteenth 
Alabama  regiment  across  the  creek  as  skirmishers,  under  command  of 
Major  Hundley  of  that  regiment,  and  rode  over  myself  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  observation-^.  Placing  the  three  compani.'S  as 
pickets  in  a  piece  of  woodlalid,  I  cro.'sed  my  whole  brigade  over  the 
creek,  (tho  men  wading,)  soon  after  nightf  .11,  at  a  point  a  short  dis- 
tance above  Thedfor-i's  ford,  being  the  first  troops  to  cross  the  creek 
in  that  vicinity.  I  put  the  battery  in  position  en  the  left,  supported 
by  the  thirty-eighth  Alabama  regiment,  and  .lirected  the  other  regi- 
ments to  bivouac  immediately  up.n  the  bi.nk  of  the  creek.  O  i  the 
morning  of  the  19th,  the  othci'  briga  b-s  (Bn.wn's  and  B.ite's)  of  the 
division  (Stewart's)  having  cro-tsed  tho  cre-k  an  1  fjnue  I  in  ray  rear, 
my  brigade  moved  forward  in  lino  of  bittleat  an  early  hour,  a  dis- 
tance between  one  and  two  miles,  until  it  reached  a  poMti"n  f-oin 
*hich  the  enemy  could  bo  seen  upon  the  distiiit  hills.  The  brii;ido, 
and  so  far  as  I  could  loarn,  the  whote  armv,  e.Kcept  uoon  the  exueine 
ri;'ht,  whete  the  engi2;ement  had  alrealy  began,  hilte-l  until  half-past 
orfe  o'clock,  P.  M.,  wi'ien  it  was  ordsrcd  to  tlio  right  nbout  one  in  la. 
Having  received  instructions  as  to  the  point  upon  which  I  shuuld 
direct  "ny  brigade,  with  the  further  admonition  (hit.  aftrr  having  more 
definitely  located  the  enemy,  I  would  have  to  act  fir  myself  and  be 
governed  by  circumstances.  I  moved  forwirdin  lino  of  bittb-  with 
hkirmishers  in  front.  ^  Having  proco  ildl  a  few  huiidr.'d  yards  thiongh 
»  dense  undergrowth  and  being  about  to  enter  a  ouliivatod  liehl,  I 
halted  for  tho  purpose  of  correcting  tlte  aiignracn'.  when  Col-.nel 
John  C.  Carter,  of  the  thirty-eigliih  Tennessee  regiinonr,  Wright's 
brigade,  Cheatham's  division,  came  ou  foot  from   mj  left  iu  gieal 


159 

haste  and  informed  me  that   my  brigade  was  marching  in  the  wrong 
direction,  and  that  unless  I  changed  mj  direction  nearlj  perpendicu- 
larly to  the  left,  my  brigade  would  soon    be   in  range  of  the  enemy's 
small  arms  and   artillery,  which    would  enfilade  my  line;  and  that  as 
1  then  stood,  the  right  of  the  enemy  was  in  rear  of  my  left.     I  im- 
mediately changed  my  direction,  and,  marching  by  the  left  flank  and 
tiling  obliquely   to  the  left  and   rear,   (the  nature  of  the  ground  not 
admitting  of  any  other  movement.)  had  Ecarcely  changed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  moving  in  the  new  direction,  when  the  enemy  opened  fire  upon 
us,  which  was  promptly  returned.     The  firing  seeming  to  be  too  much 
lit  random,  I  passed   down   and   up    the   line    calling  the  attention  of 
•flicers  to  the  fact.     I  then  directed   my   staff  to    inform   regimental 
I'oramandcrs  that  I  was  about  to  order  a  charge.     Passing  again  down 
the  line,  I  was  informed  by  several  officers  that  their  ammunition  was 
expended,  and  I  therefore  reconsidered  my   first    intention  to  charge 
the  enemy,  being  unable  on  account  of  the  thick  undergrowth  to  form 
a  satisfactory  idea  of  his  strength,  and  withdrew  for  the   purpose  of 
replenishing  the  ammunition.     This  was  done  fn  good  order  and  with 
little  loss,  the  enctay  having  almost  simultaneously  ceased  firing.     In 
this  engagement  the  brigade  lost  near  four  hundred  officers  and  nr.en 
killed  and  wounded.     It  began  about  half-past  two  o'clock  and  lasted 
i>nc  hour.     The  enemy  was  formed  in  a  semi-circle  around  and  over  a 
»light  elevation  or  hill   which  gave   him   great  advantage  in  position, 
snd  the  manner  in  which  both  ends  of  my  line  were  cross-fired  upon 
induce  the  opinion  that  we  were  greatly  out-numbered.   I  again  moved 
forward  about  four  o'clock,  the  brigades  of  Generals  Brown  and  Bato 
having  successively  advanced  and  engaged  the  enemy.  Passing  Ijate's 
brigade,  then   in   front,   my   line   continued   steadily   forward  with 
promptness  and  spirit,  accompanied   nearly  to  the  Chattanooga  road 
by  the  fifty-eighth  Alabama  regiment.  Colonel   Bush.  Jones,  (which 
mtracted  my  attention  by  the  excellent  order  in  which  it  moved.)  and 
a  small  portion  of  another  regiment,  which  I  did  not  recognise,. both 
of  Bate's  brigade.     The  enemy  continued  to  retreat   to  and  beyond 
the  Chattanooga  road,  near  which  my  brigade  captured  two  pieces  •f 
irtillery,  whirh  were  brought  off  in   the  manner   stated   by  my  regi- 
mental commanders,  whose  reports  accompany  this.     My  brigade  con- 
•. :r, lied  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  one-half  mile  beyond  the  road,  when 
(I  officer  reporting  the  enemy  advancing  in  strong  force  from  tho 
t.  and  it  also  having  been  reported  to  me  through  my  assistant 
.'.iDt  general,  by  a  staff  officer,  whom    he  drd  not  recognize,    that 
•  i.cmy's  cavalry  had  been  seen   in   force   upon  the  left  as  if  pre- 
:  g  to  advance,  my  brigade   fell    back  across  the    road  at  leisure, 
'•  1  halted  and  reformed  it  in  connection  with  the  portion  of  Gen. 
s  biigiide  already  referred  to.'     I  take    pleasure    in    mentioning 
•  'apuiBS  Crenshaw   and   Lee,  with    their   companies,    from    tbs 
-eighth  Alabama  regiment,  of  BAte's   brigade,  accoinpanied  rcino 
lid  the  road.     They  are  gallant  officers.     In  this  charge  my  brig- 
L apt u red  fifty  or  sixty  prisoners,  besides  tho  two    pieces  of  artil> 
.,  Slid  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  tho  loss  in  killed  and  woandc>4 
>..  .i:ted  upon  the  enemy,  to  Bomo  extent,  compensated  for  our  own  in 


IGO 

the  c»rlier  engagement.  Changing  the  direction  of  ray  line  by  a  front 
forward  upon  the  right  and  the  other  two  sides  of  a  triangle  being 
formed  by  Generals  Brown  and  Bates,  night  coming  on,  the  troops 
slept  upon  their  arms  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy,  who 
could  be  distinctly  heard  erecting  breastworks.  During  the  niglif 
mv  pickets  brought  in  about  forty  prisoners,  among  whom  were  se\ 
ral  officers  of  the  lower  grades.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  20 f:. 
the  brigade  was  mored  to  the  right  and  in  a  position  about  three  hun- 
dred yards  from  and  parallel  to  the  Chattanooga  road.  Here  it 
remained  until  eleven  o'clock,  su1>jected  the  most  of  the  time  to  a 
severe  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  by  which  several  men  were 
wounded.  About  eleven  o'clock,  General  Brown  being  in  front,  and 
General  Bate  on  my  right,  the  whole  division  advanced  under  a  most 
terrible  fire  of  grape  and  canister  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  before 
which  several  most  gallant  officers  fell  bravely  leading  their  men, 
among  whom  I  cannot  forbear  to  mention  the  name  of  the  chivalrous 
and  accomplished  Lieutenant  Colonel  R  F.  Juge,  of  the  eighteenth 
Alabama  regiment.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  brigade  pressed  for- 
ward through  a  narrow  corn-field  to  the  first  pieces  of  artillery  by  the 
road  side,  when  two  other  batteries,  one  in  front  and  one  upon  the 
right,  assisted  by  small  arms,  began  a  most  murderous  fire,  before 
which  all  were  compelled  to  retire.  I  was  myself  struck  by  a  grape 
ehot  and  compelled  to  dismount  for  a  short  time.  The  thirty-eighth 
Alabama  regiment,  scarcely  breaking  its  line,  fell  back  only  a  short 
distance.  The  other  regiments  promptly  reformed  near  the  position 
originally  occupied  by  them,  and  moved  forward  to  rejoin  it.  Gen. 
Brown's  brigade  lyas  reformed  by  Colonel  Cook,  (General  B.  having 
been  wounded,)  on  my  left,  and  General  Bate's  brigade  upon  my 
right.  My  own  and  General  Brown's  brigade  soon  moved  forward 
again  to  the  road  and  then  to  the  right  towards  the  enemy,  who  were 
ascertained  to  be  there  in  strong  position.  General  Bate  was  formed 
in  my  rear,  and  in  this  position  the  command  remained  until  about 
five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  I  again  moved  my  brigade  forward.  Soon 
coming  upon  the  enemy  behind  breastworks,  they  were  gallantly 
charged  by  my  whole  line  with  great  spirit,  the  enemy  ffeeing  in  wild 
disorder  across  a  large  open  field,  upon  the  edge  of  which  I 
ordered  a  halt,  and  the  brigade  continued  to  fire  as  long  as  the  enemy 
could  be  seen.  Many  taking  refuge  in  and  around  a  hospital, 
(Kelly's  house,)  I  sent  forward,  first  the  thirty-eighth,  and  afterwards 
the  eighteenth  Alabama  regiments,  which,  together  captured  about 
three  hundred  prisoners,  besides  near  the  same  number  of  wounded. 

Thus  terminated  the  part  taken  by  this  brigade  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga.  I  have  omitted  to  say  anything  about  the  battery, 
because  it  was  under  the  chief  of  artillery  for  the  division,  except  a 
fihort  time,  during  which  I  had  no  opportunity  of  using  it.  I  suppose 
the  report  in  regard  to  it  will  more  properly  be  made  through  the 
chief  of  artillery.  The  brigade  went  into  action  on  the  19th  with 
thirteen  hundred  and  fifty-two,  total  effective,  and  ninety-four  officers. 

It  lost  in  the  two  days,  twelve  officers  killed  dead  upon  the  field, 
and  eighty-nine  men.     Thirty  have  since   died.     Thirty-four  officers 


161 

and  four  humlreJ  and  forty-nine  men  were  wounlcd  and  fifteen  miss- 
ing, making  the  aggregate,  killed  wounded  and  missing,  six  hundred  and 
twentj-nine.  This  does  not  include  many  who  were  slightly  woundeJ 
and  did  not  leave  the  field.  The  brigade  captured  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  three  hundred  and  ninety-six  prisoners,  besides  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  wounded  and  in  hospital.  It  collected  twelve  hundred 
and  forty-nine  muskets  and  rifles,  six  hundred  and  forty  sets  of  accoutre- 
ments and  twenty  thousand  cartridges.  The  greater  portion  of  the  guns 
and  ammunition  were  carried  off  the  fi?ld  by  my  own  ordnance 
wagons.  I. claim  for  my  brigade  that  it  was  the  first  and  the  last  in  the 
division  to  encounter  the  enemy  ;  the  first  in  the  army  to  pierce  the 
enemy's  centre  and  cross  the  Chattanooga  road,  which  was  done  on 
Saturday  evening  near  Brotherton's  house.  I  conclude  this  report 
by  tendering  my  cordial  thanks  to  and  testifying  in  behalf  of  the 
gallant  men  composing  this  brigade,  in  all  whose  ranks  there 
appeared  not  a  single  cowiird,  and  to  the  officers,  worthy  of  such  men,* 
leading  them  in  every  charge.  My  thanks  are  particn'arly  duo  to  Capt. 
J.  M.  Slacon,  A.  A.  G.,  Lieut.  J.  Vidence,  assistant  inspector  general, 
and  Lieutenant  W.  N.  Kuight,  aid-de-camp,  who  rendered  me  prompt 
and  valuable  services  throughout  the  whole  engagement,  never  once 
fhrinking  from  their  duty.  To  the  commanders  of  regiments,  I  also 
make  my  acknowledgments  for  the  efficient  manner  in  which  they 
directed  and  kept  their  commands  together,  the  most  difficult  of  all 
duties  upon  the  field.  I  also  tender  my  thanks  to  Major  General 
Stewart,  who  was  everywhere  and  umlVr  all  circumstances  present 
with  his  command.  To  the  gallant  dead,  a  contemplation  of  whom 
•addens  our  hearts,  we  give  our  tears  and  a  hearty  "well  done  !" 
May  the  God  of  battles  give  us  courage  to  emulate  their  heroic 
cxampleB,  and,  when  the  time  shall  come,  bravely  to  share  thei^  fate. 
I  am,  Major,  Tery  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  D.  CLAYTON, 

Brigodier  General. 


II 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  W.  B.  BATE. 

IIeadqvarters  Bate's  BBrnADE.  Stfwarts  Division,  > 
In  front  ofC/uittartouga,  October  9,  1863.      J 

Major  R.  A.  Hatcher, 

AssiitatU  Adjutant  General : 

Major  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  par- 
ticipation haJ  by  my  brigade  in  the  lute  three  days'  battle  of  the 
Chickamauga,  comprising  the  18th,  lf>th  and  2tHh  ultimo: 

Having  been  ordered  to  advance,  take  possef.<ion  of  and  hold  Thed- 
ford's  ford,  but  not  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement  unless  indis- 
pensable to  the  accomplishment  of  these  objects,  I  moved  ray  com- 
*L3and  at  once,  at  a  double-quick,  and  occupied  a  wooded  eminence 
commanding  it,  afid  placed  my  battery,  the  Eufala  light  artillery,  on 
a  cleared  hill  to  tlie  front  and  left,  which  overlooked  tho  enemy,  and 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  his  position.  The  attack,  in  which  the 
fourth  Georgia  battalion  of  sharpshooters,  Major  Caswell,  and  my 
artillery  alone  were  engaged,  was  brisk  and  spirited.  In  the  mean- 
time, however,  the  entire  brigade  was  subjected  to  a  severe  shelling 
from  the  enemy  just  above  Alexander's  bridge,  and  across  the  Chick- 
amauga,  by  which  one  man  was  killed  and  five  or  si.ic  wounded.  After 
a  ftw  well-directed  shots  from  my  battery,  which  Captain  Oliver 
placed  promptly  in  position,  the  enemy  gave  way.  This  was  the  opening 
f.ght  of  the  battle  of  the  Chickamauga.  We  bivouacked  near  the  camp 
of  the  enemy,  commandiijg  the  two  fords — Thcdford's  and  tho  Bend 
ford — where  I  crossed  my  command  next  morning  at  an  early  hour, 
and  formed  line  of  battle  in  rear  of  Brigadier  Generals  Brown'>3  and 
Clayton's  brigades,  the  whole  under  command  of  Major  General 
Stewart.  AVe  moved  in  this  order,  bearing  to  the  right,  through  a 
corn-field  and  woodland  nearly  two  miles,  at  which  point  we  were 
halted  for  some  hours.  Here  my  artillery  was  put  forwaid  to  develop 
the  enemy's  position,  which  it  did,  drawing  shell  and  round  shot  upon 
our  lines,  wounding  three  or  four  of  my  men.  We  were  moved  hence 
by  the  right  liank  near  a  point  where  heavy  volleys  of  musketry  were 
heard,  and  thence  by  the  left  liank  in  line  of  battle,  some  three  or 
four  hundred  yards,  and  halted  in  the  same  relative  position  we  had 
occupied  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  day,  mine  being  the  rear  line 
cf  battle.  At  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Brigadier  Generals  Clayton's  and 
Brown's  brigades  successively  engaged  the  enemy.  In  about  thirty 
minutes  I  was  ordered  by  Major  General  Stewart  to  advance — General 
Clayton  having  withdrawn  and  Brown  also  passed  to  the  rear.  My 
line  of  battle  was  organized  by  placing  Caswell's  battalion  of  sharp- 
shooters (fourth  Georgia)  on  the  right,  and  in  succession  from  that 
wing  was  tho  twentieth  Tennessee,  Colonel  T.  B.  Smith  ;  thirty- 
seventh  Georgia,  Colonel  A.  T.  Rudlcr;  fifty-eighth  Alabama, 
Colonel  Bush.  Jones,  and  fifteenth  and  thirty-seventh  Tennessee, 
Colonel  R.  C.  Tyler,  constituting  the  supporting  line. .    I  had  thrown 


163 

out  no  skirmishers.  The  whole  command  moved  forward  with  spirit 
and  zeal,  engagin/r  the  enemy  hotly  before  it  had  proceeded  two  hun- 
dred yards — his  line  extending  in  front  and  to  the  right  and  left  of 
U3.  A  bittery  in  front  of  my  extreme  right  played  constantly  and 
with  terrible  effect  upon  that  wing,  until  my  right  pressed  within  less 
than  fifty  paces  of  it,  when  it  was  rapidly  removed  to  prevent  capture. 
Another  revealed  its  hydra-head  immediately  in  the  rear  of  this,  8up- 
portcd  by  a  second  line,  hurling  its  death-dealing  missiles  more 
destructively,  if  possible,  upon  our  still  advancing  but  already  thinned 
ranks,  Having  driven  the  first  lino  back  upon  its  support,  a  fresh 
battery  and  infantry  were  brought  to  play  upon  my  riglit,  which,  by 
it«  advanced  position  had  become  subject  to  an  enfilade  fire,  gave  way, 
but  not  until  Major  Capwell,  Colonel  Smith  and  Colonel  Rudler,  the 
three  officerj  commanding  respectively  the  three  right  battalions,  wore 
wounded,  and  at  least  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  tlieir  numbers  killed 
and  wounded.  When  the  right  gave  way  the  enemy  sought  to  follow 
it  up,  and  pressed  his  sharpshooters  beyond  the  right  flank,  who, 
finding  it  well  aligned  and  in  the  attitude  of  resistance,  precipitated 
themselves  back  and  out  of  reach.  The  men  were  easily  rallied,  and 
promptly  reformed  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  point  to  which 
they  had  advanced.  In  this  dash  the  en'emy  captured  one  of  my 
pieces  and  one  of  my  couriers.  It  needed,  however,  but  a  moment  to 
retake  the  piece,  which  was  handsomely  done.  In  this  contest  ray 
right  retook  the  battle  flag  of  the  fifty-first  Tennessee  regiment. 
General  \yrighl"s  brigade,  ▼. hich  but  a  moment  before  had  been 
wrested  from  them  by  superior  numbers  and  the  flank  movements  of 
the  enemy.  I  was  rejoiced  to  deprive  him  of  this  trophy,  so  recently 
won,  and  return  it  to  its  gallant  owners,  hallowed  as  it  is  by  its 
baptiura  in  the  blood  of  Shiloh,  Perryville  and  Murfreesboro'.  My 
left  in  the  meantime,  composed  of  the  fifty-eighth  Alabama,  Colonel 
Jones,  and  fittcenth  and  thirty-seventh  Tennessee  regiments,  (consol- 
idated.) Colonel  Tyler,  not  being  so  much  harassed  by  the  enfilade 
fife  from  the  right,  presled  steadily  forward  in  fine  order,  driving  the 
enemy,  who  contested  every  inch  of  ground  with  dogged  and  persistent 
obstinacy  until  forced  beyond  the  Chattanooga  road  and  several  hun- 
dred yards  back  into  the  wood,  thus  deranging  his  compact  lines  and 
breaking  hia.  centre.  In  this  charge  Colonel  'I'yler  captured  three 
guns;  and  Colonel  Jones  participated  with  the  thirty-eighth  Alabama, 
Colonel  Woodruff",  in  the  capture  of  three ;  for  the  particulars  of 
which  I  refer  to  their  reports.  It  being  nearly  night,  and  having 
advanced  so  far  beyond  the  enemy's  lines  as  to  make  them  liable  to  a 
flank  movement,  they  returned  from  further  pursuit  to  the  puint  on 
the  battle-field  to  which  I  bad  ordered  the  Eufala  light  artillery,  and 
where  General  Clayton  and  I  were  reforming  our  shattered  commands — 
Colonel  Tyler  bringing  with  him  his  captured  guns,  and  Colonel 
JoDes  in  such  fine  order  as  to  elicit  my  public  commendation.  Owing 
to  a  movement  of  the  enemy  to  our  right,  the  front  of  General  Clay- 
ton's command  was  changed  by  Major  General  Stewart  to  meet  an 
expected  attack  from  that  eolirce,  and  my  line  wa<<  left  fronting  the 
Chattanooga  road.     General   lirowu'e  command  subsequently  inter- 


ICl 

Tened.  Thus  we  bivounckcd  for  the  night  upon  the  field  of  carnsgc. 
enveloped  by  the  smoke  of  battle  and  surrounded  by  the  dead  <. : 
friend  and  foe. 

Sunday  morning  found  ua  in  the  lino  acsuraed^the  night  previous, 
and,  under  the  order  of  Major  General  Stewart,  I  moved  my  com- 
mand by  the  right  flank  five  or  sis  hundred  yards,  and  took  position 
forward  and  on  the  right  of  General  Brown's  brigade,  but  in  forming 
the  line  was  compelled  to  retire  the  right  to  an  angle  of  about  forty- 
Eve  degrees  on  account  of  the  proximity  of  the  enemy,  located  to 
my  right  oblique.  Caswell's  battalion  of  sharpshooters,  under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Joel  Towers,  Captain  JJcnjamin  Turner  hav- 
ing been  dangerously  wounded  the  evening  before,  was  thrown  for- 
ward and  deployed  at  right  angles  with  my  right  to  guard  against 
a  repetition  of  the  movement  of  the  previous  evening,  to  turn  that 
flank,  to  which  wo  were  liable,  there  being  at  that  time  no  force  sufE- 
ciently  near  to  intervene.  Having  assumed  this  line  of  battle,  I  had 
a  temporary  barricade  of  logs  hastily  constructed,  which  gave  par- 
tial protection  against  the  shower  of  grape,  canister  and  shell  which 
continuously  and  most  angrily  saluted  us.  During  the  time  that  we 
were  subjected  to  this  ordeal  several  men  and  officers  were  killed  and 
wounded,  yet  no  restiveness  or  other  evidence  of  demoralization  was 
manifested. 

At  about  nine,  A.  M.,  the  brigade  of  General  Desbler  was  placed 
upon  my  right,  prolonging  the  line,  and  observing  the  same  inclina- 
tion to  the  rear.  Soon  thereafter,  I  received  notice  thjit  General 
Wood's  brigade  was  in  my  front,  and  that  the  general  movement  would 
be  a  successive  one,  by  brigades,  commencing  on  the  right,  and  was 
ordered  by  Major  General  Stewart  to  follow  up  the  movement  of  Gen- 
eral Dcshler.  After  waiting,  under  a  severe  and  incessant  firo  of 
artillery,  until  about  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  I  communicated  to  General 
Stewart  that  no  movement  on  my  right  had  taken  place,  that  General 
Desbler  had  been  killed,  and  desired  to  know  if  I  should  longe.- 
remain  inactive.  About  this  time  there  wate  firing  in  my  front,  afld 
soon  thereafter  General  Wood's  command  came  back,  passing  over 
my  line.  I  was  then  ordered  by  Major  General  Stewart  to  advance 
and  attack.  My  command  received  the  order  with  a  shout,  and  moved 
upon  the  foe  at  a  rapid  gait.  The  battalion  of  sharpshooters  was 
ordered  to  maintain  its  position  at  right  angles  to  the  line,  and  check, 
if  possible,  if  not  to  delay,  any  m.ovement  in  that  direction,  giving 
the  earliest  notice  of  the  same.  My  right,  as  upon  the  evening  pre- 
vious, became  hotly  engaged  almost  the  instant  it  assumed  the  offen- 
Bive.  It  was  subject  to  a  most  galling  fire  of  grape  and  musketry 
from  my  right  oblique  and  front,  cutting  down  with  great  fatality  the 
twentieth  Tennessee  and  thirty-seventh  Georgia  at  every  step,  until 
they  drove  the  enemy  behind  his  defences,  from  which,  without  sup- 
port, either  of  artillery  or  infantry,  they  were  unable  to  dislodge  him. 
General  Deshlcr's  brigade  not  having  advanced,  I  called  on  Major 
General  Cleburne,  who  was  near  my  right  and  rear,  for  assistance, 
but  he  having  none  at  his  disposal  which  could  be  spared,  I  was  com- 
pelled to  retire  that  wing  of  my  brigade,  or  sacrifice  it  in  uselessly 


16:. 

fighting  tlnico  its  numbers,  with  the  advantage  of  the  hill  and  breast- 
works against  it.  I  did  so  in  good  order,  and  without  indecent  haste, 
and  aligned  it  first  in  front  and  tlien  plnced  it  in  rear  of  our  flimsy 
defenses.  My  left,  the  fifty-eighth  Alabaraa.  and  fifteenth  and  thirty- 
ty-sevcnth  TcnncFsee,  the  latter  under  coramnnd  of  Licutcnt  Colonol 
Frazicr,  Colonel  Tyler  having  been  wounded,  being  further  from  the 
enemy's  line  than  my  right,  did  not  so  soon  become  cngnged,  neither 
St  this  time  subject  to  so  severe  a  cross-fire,  proceeded  steadily  on 
and  drove  the  enemy  behind  his  works,  which  had  been  constructed 
the  night  previous,  on  the  very  spot  we  had  driven  thera  from,  and 
maintained  their  position  with  a  dogged  tenacity  un;il  the  twen- 
tieth Tennessee  and  thirty-seventh  Georgia  were  put  in  position 
behind  the  barricade,  and  the  battalion  of  sharpshooters  drawn  in. 
The  artillery  of  the  enemy  had  ceased  to  play  upon  us,  except  at 
slow  intervals,  and  a  part  of  their  (Tyler  and  Jones)  commands 
having  already  returned,  I  despatched  Lieutenant  Blanchard,  of  my 
staff,  to  ascertain  their  situation,  who  reported  that  he  met  them 
returning  with  the  balance  of  their  commands  in  good  order.  I 
rhcc'iithem  in  position  and  awaited  orders.  I  am  unable  to  give  as 
accuimean  account  of  my  left  as  of  my  right,  for  the  reason  thatthe  right 
became  first  engaged,  and  the  comraandors  of  the  three  right  battalions 
Laving  been  wounded  the  evening  previous,  devolving  the  command 
on  janior  officers,  I  felt  that  my  personal  services  were  most  needed 
there,  wliich  prevented  my  witnessing,  so  as  to  give  in  detail,  the 
incident?  connected  with  that  portion  of  the  field.  I  found,  however, 
their  dead  in  the  breastworks  of  the  enemy,  which  is  the  highest 
evidence  that  can  be  afforded  of  what  they  did.  In  this  fight,  my 
command  lost  thirty  per  cent,  killed  and  wounded,  in  addition  to  the 
heavy  loss  of  #16  evening  before.  After  a  short  respite,  Major  Gen- 
eral ttcwart  ordered  my  command,  (which  still  held  its  position  in  the 
front  line.)  to  the  left,  where  it  would  be  more  secure  from  the  artil- 
lery missiles  of  the  enemy  on  my  right.  Here  we  remained  until 
about  five,  P.  M.,  when  I  was  ordered  to  fjrm  in  rear  of  General 
Clayton,  and  join  hinl  in  taking  the  batteries  and  breastworks  on  our 
right,  from  which  wc  had  suffered  bo  heavily  during  the  day.  I 
charged  front  forward  on  my  right  battalion,  and,  together  with  Gen- 
eral Clayton's  brigade,  soon  were  over  the  fortifications,  driving  the 
enemy  in  confusion  and  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners.  In  this 
charge,.  Captain  Tankersly  commanded  the  fifteenth  and  thirty- 
seventh  Tennessee,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Frazier  having  been  wounded. 
The  Eufala  light  artillery,  Capt.  Oliver,  had  kept  close  to  my  infantry, 
notwithstanding. the (ibstruction  of  a  dense  wood,  took  position  inside 
the  fortifications,  and  opened  a  rapid  and  destructive  fire  upon  the  re- 
treating foe  until  the  curtain  of  night  closed  upon  the  scene.  I  claim 
for  this  battery  the  honor  of  opening  on  Friday  evening,  and  closing 
on  Sunday  evening,  ti.c  battle  of  Cbickamauga. 

My  brigade  went  into  the  fight  with  mus-kets  in  the  bands  of  on«- 
third  of  the  men,  but  alter  the  f:-*  '^  -  -"  Saturday  evening  every 
man  was  supplietl  with   a  good    i  and  ammunition  to  enil, 

which  was  u.ied   wiih  effect  on    i'^t.i    .;^  nal   owners  the  next  day. 


1GG 

The  deaiJ  and  wounded  of  the  enemy,  over  which  we  pissed  in  drivinj; 
them  back  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  jjave  an  earne8t  of  the  telling  effect 
produced  upon  them  in  both  day's  fight.  Besides  anoing  itself  with 
Enfield  rifles,  a  detail  from  my  command,  under  supervision  of  my  ord- 
nance officer,  Jas.  E.  Kice,  gathered  upon  the  field  and  conveyed  to  the 
ordnance  train  about  two  thousand  efficient  guns.  The  pieces 
captured  by  Colonel  Tyler,  and  those  in  which  Colonel  Jones  partici- 
pitod  in  the  capture,  were  taken  to  the  rear  and  turned  over  to  proper 
officers. 

My  command  entered  the  fight,  Friday  evening,  with  one  thousand 
and  fifty-five  guns,  thirty  provost  guard,  and  a  fair  complement 
of  officers,  out  of  whi^  number  it  lost  seven  officers  and  fifty-nine 
men  killed,  and  five  hundred  and  forty-one  M-ounded,  sixty-one  of 
whom  were  officers,  making  a  toA\  of  six  hundred  and  seven.  It  is 
seen  that  every  fiidd  officer  in  the  brig.ade,  excepting  three,  were 
wounded.  For  further  particulars,  allow  me  to  respectfully  refer  to 
the  reports  of  the  coramandiirs  of  battalions  and  the  battery,  which  are 
herewith  transmitted. 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  noticing  the  distir^ished 
services  rendered,  unworthy  as  the  tribute  may  be,  by  my  field  Wicers, 
Colonels  Tyler,  Smith,  Rudlerand  Jones,  Lieutenant  Colonels  Smith, 
Myer  and  Frazier,  and  Majors  Caswell,  Wail,  Kendtick,  Shye  and 
Ti:ornton  ;  to  each  of  whom  is  due  the  highest  meed  of  praise.  It 
would  be  invidious  to  make  distinctions  when  each  has  played  his  part 
60  well.  (Jolonels  Kudler  and  Smith  and  Major  Caswell  were  pain- 
fully, the  last  two  seriously,  v, ounded,  at  the  head  of  their  respective 
commands,  early  in  the  engagement  of  Saturday,  and  comptdled  to 
retire  from  the  field,  thus  devolvirig  the  command  cf  the  twentieth 
Tennessee  on  Major  Shye  ;  the  thirty-seventh  Georgi#on  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Smith,  and  battalion  of  sharpshooters  on  Lieutenant  Towers, 
each  of  whom  did  his  duty  gallantly  and  nobly  throughout  the  conflict. 
Colonel  Tyler,  Lieutenant  Colonels  M\'er  and  Frazier,  Majors  Wall, 
Kendrick  and  Thornton  were  wounded,  from  which  they  suffered  con- 
siderably, (the  last  named  officer  prostrated  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell,) 
but  still  remained  at  the  post  of  duty,  bearing  themselves  with 
distinguished  gallantry. 

To  each  of  mj  staft".  Major  Winchester,  (who,  notwithstanding  his 
leg  was  badly  hiVt  from  the  fall  of  his  korso  when  shot  Friday  even- 
ing, continued  in  the  field  until  the  close  of  the  fiight,)  LiouteuantB 
lilanchard  and  Bate,  I  am  indebted  for  their  hearty  co-operation  and 
prompt  execution  of  my  orders,  notwith.=tanding  each  was  unhorsed 
by  shots  from  the  enemy.  Also,  to  James  E.  Kice,  brigade  ordnance 
officer,  I  am  indebted  for  tho  prompt  discharge  of  his  duties  ;  but  to 
none  are  my  thanks  more  signally  due,  or  more  cordially  awarded, 
than  to  my  gallant  young  adjutant  Captain  W.  C.  Yancey,  who  while 
cheering  and  encouraging  my  right  wing,  in  its  desperate  charge  on 
Sunday,  received  a  fearful  wound,  shattering  his  foot,  and  compelling 
him  to  retire  from  the  field.  I  take  pleasure,  also,  in  adding  my  testi- 
mony, humble  as  it  may  be,  to  the  hearty  co-ope»ation  of  the  two 
gallant  brigades  of  Stewart's  division,  General  Clayton's  and  Brown's, 


167 

in  every  charge  in  wbicU  it  tti?  the  fortune  of  my  conitnan.l  to  engags. 
Miijor  General  Stewart  will  accept  my  thanks,  as  a  soMier's  tri- 
bute, for  his  polite  and  gonial  bearing,  and  personal  assistance  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight,  the  time  when  I  felt  I  much  needel  it.  While 
I  recount  the  services  of  the  living,  I  cannot  pnss  unrcmemberel 
the  heroic  dead;  the  cypress  must  be  interwoven  with  the  laurel.  The 
bloody  field  attested  the  sacrifice  of  many  a  noble  spirit  in  the  fierce 
Struggle — the  privalr  soldier  vicing  with  tlic  officer  in  deeds  of  high 
daring  and  distinguished  courage.  Wliilc  the  river  of  death  shall 
float  its  sluggi.'h  current  to  the  beautiful  Tennessee,  and  the  night 
wind  chant  its  solemn  dirges  over  their  soldier-graves,  their  names, 
enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  th?ir  countrymen,  will  be  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  a?  the  champions  and  defenders  of  their  country,  who 
had  sealed  their  devotion  with  their  blood,  on  one  of  the  most  gloriou-s 
battlefields  of  our  revolution. 

I  am,  Major,  most  respectfully  your  obedient  scrrant, 

WILLIAM  B.  BATE, 

Jjrig'idicr  Genera!. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER  GENERAL  J.  C.  BROWN. 

Headquarters  Brown's  Brigadk,      ^ 
B(fore  Chatiunooga,  October  13,  1»G3.  S 

Major  R.  A.  TTatciier, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  StiwarCs  Division  : 

Major  :  I  respectfully  bpg  leave  to  submit  the  following  as  a  rcpoi  i 
of  the  part  performed  bj  ray  command  in  the  battle  of  Cliickamauga 
on  the  19th  and  20th  of  September,  1S63 : 

My  brigade  consisted  of  the  eighteenth  Tennessee,  Col.  J.  B.  Palmer; 
fcrty-5fth  Tennessee,  Colonel  A.  Searcy  ;  thirty-second  Tennes- 
see, Colonel  Edward  C.  Cook;  Newman's  battalion,  M.HJor  Tazewell 
W.  Newman,  and  the  twenty-sixth  Tennessee,  Colonel  John  M.  Lil- 
lard,  forming  line  from  right  to  left  in  the  order  stated,  numbering 
twelve  hundred  cft'cctive  men.  On  the  morning  of  the  H)th,  Il#n'son's 
battery  of  Georgia  light  artillery,  four  pieces,  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
R.  W.  Anderson,  also  reported  to  me. 

At  early  dawn  of  the  1 9th  I  crossed  the  Chickamauga  at  Lcdford's 
ford,  and  formed  in  rear  of  Brigadier  General  Clayton,  six  hundred 
yards  from  that  stream.  Bate  forming  soon  after  in  my  roar.  A  little 
after  sunrise  we  moved  to  the  front  in  that  order,  swinging  the  right 
a  little  forward,  until  we  came  up  with  the  division  commanded  by 
Brigadier  General  Johnson,  and  formed  on  its  left.  About  eleven 
o'clock,  we  moved  by  the  right  flank  four  or  five  hundred  yards  in 
rear  of  Johnson's  division,  and  soon  aftcrwar<ls  eight  hundred  yards 
further,  halting  immediately  in  rear  of  the  left  of  Cheatham's  division, 
which  was  then  hotly  engaged.  His  left  brigade,  being  numerically 
overpowered  and  repulsed,  was  relieved  by  Brigadier  General  Clayton, 
immediately  in  my  front.  I  followed  this  movement  closely,  being  so 
near  to  Clayton's  line  that  many  of  mytcommand  were  wounded  and 
a  few  killed  before  1  could  return  the  fire.  The  front  line  advanced 
but  little  under  the  combined  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  small 
arms,  until  General  Clayton  reported  his  ammunition  exhausted. 

At  about  two,  r.  M.,  in  obedience  to  orders  received  in  person  from 
the  Major  General  commanding,  I  relieved  him,  and  encountered  the 
enemy  in  an  unbroken  forest,  rendered  the  more  difficult  of  passage 
by  the  dense  undergrowth  which  for  more  than  two  hundred  yards  ex- 
tended along  my  entire  line.  And  difficulties  were  still  further  en- 
hanced by  the  smoke  of  battle,  and  the  burning  of  the  woods  rendered 
it  impossible  to  distinguish  objects  twenty  paces  in  advance.  My» 
skirmishers  encountering  the  enemy  at  an  hundred  yards  or  less,  I 
pushed  rapidly  upon  his  lines,  under  a  most  terrific  fire  from  all  arms. 
There  was  no  position  from  which  my  artillery  could  be  served  with 
advantage  against  the  enemy,  while  two  of  his  batteries  immediately 
in  my  front,  and  one  almost  on  my  right  flank,  filled  the  air  with  grape, 
canister,  shells  and  solid  shot,  while  volley  after  volley  of  musketry,  in 


169 

quick  sncccssiou,  swept  my  men  bj  scores  at  every  discharge.  For 
four  huDilreil  yards,  however,  my  line  stoadily  advanced  without  fal- 
tering at  ony  point  until  the  enemy  had  been  driven  beyond  the 
tangled  undergrowth  nnd  his  first  line  completely  routed.  A  stubborn 
resistance  from  the  second  line,  supported  by  artillery,  posted  upon  a 
slight  acclivity  in  our  front,  and  pouring  showers  of  canister  upon  us 
for  a  few  minutes,  checdsed  our  progress,  but  again  wc  advanced, 
"iriving  back  his  second  lino  up  to  and  beyond  the  summit  of  the 
ridge,  until  my  right  rested  upon  and  my  centre  and  left  had  passed 
the  crest.  Unfortunately,  however,  at  this  moment,  when  the  rout  of 
the  second  line  was  about  being  made  as  complete  as  the  disaster  to 
the  first  a  few  minutes  previous,  a  force  of  the  enemy  appeared  upon 
my  right  flank,  and  had  well  righ  turned  it,  compelling  the  eighteenth 
and  forty-fifth  Tennessee  regiment  to  retire  rapidly  and  in  some  con- 
fusion under  a  heavy  enfilading  fire..  This  hecessitated  the  withdrawal 
of  the  centre  and  left,  there  being  no  support  upon  my  right  for  » 
nilc  and  none  in  my  rear  nearer  than  six  hundred  yards,  and  which 
was  then  not  in  motion. 

Before  reaching  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  many  of  the  best  and 
bravest  officers  of  my  command  had  been  stricken  down.  Among  these 
may  be  named  Colonel  J.  B.  Palmer,  severely  wounded;  ColonelJohn 
M.  Lillard,  mortally  wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Butler,  slightly 
wounded;  Major  Joyner  and  Major  Tazewell  W.  Newman,  severely 
wounded,  besides  many  line  officers,  whose  services  were  almost  indis- 
pensable to  their  commands. 

Soon  after  passing  the  df  n?e  undergrowth  mentioned  above,  we  killed 
the  horses  and  drove  the  gunners  from  five  field  pieces,  throe  upon  the 
right  and  two  in  the  centre.  The  commartd  passed  them  but  the  men  were 
not  permitted  to  fall  out  of  ranks  to  remove  them.  Lieutenant  An- 
derson, of  Dawson's  battery,  removed  three  of  them  (six-pounder  rifle 
brass  pieces)  to  the  rear,  and  the  other  two  were  removed  by  persons 
unk.iowD.  In  addition  to  this,  the  thirty-second  Tennessee,  in  the 
centre,  just  before  being  withdriwn,  and  while  a  little  beyond 
the  crest  of  the  ridge,  drove  the  enemy  from  two  other  field  pieces 
».nd  silenced  their  fire,  but  did  not  reach  them;  while  the  left  (twenty- 
sixth  Tennessee)  drove  him  from  a  battery  of  the  second  line,  but  was 
retired  before  reachjng  it.  In  this  action  Carnes'  battery  of  light 
artillery,  of  Wright's  brigade,  which  had  an  hour  or  two  previous 
been  cajUnred  by  the  enemy,  was  retaken  by  mycnramad. 

Brigadier  General  Bate  relieved  me  about  ^'-,  P.  M.,  and  I  rapidly 
rcfi.rmcd  and  replenished  my  ammunition  in  hie  rear,  and,  when  ready 
again  to  move  forward,  a  staflT  officer  announced  that  the  enemy  had 
penetrated  between  Bate's  left  and  Johnson's  right  and  that  his  skir- 
mishers were  moving  upon  my  flank.  I  immediately  changed  the 
direction  of  my  line  at  a  double-quick,  first  sendincj  forward  a  strong 
line  of  skirmishers.  But  finding  that  the  enemy  had  either  retreated 
or  that  the  alarm  was  a  falce  one,  1  reported  the  fact  to  the  Major 
Oeneral  commanding,  and,  in  obedience  to  his  orders,  moved  again  to 
the  front  and,  passing  the  commands  of  Bate  and  Clayton,  fonned  in 
libe  beyond  their  left  flank,  aloiOBt  upon  the  precise  ground  to  which 


170 

I  had  previously  pursued  the  enemy.  IIavin»  placed  ray  artillery  in 
position  un  ier  the  personal  supervision  of  Major  General  Stewiirr. 
and  protected  my  front  with  skirmishers,  was  directed  to  remaiu  and 
hold  the  position  durin^j  the  night.  The  enemy  was  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  or  three  hundred  yards  distant  in  my  front,  but  did  not  ad\!ince, 
and,  save  an  occasional  shot  on  the  picket  line  and  a  few  shells  about 
ni;.'ht  fall,  there  was  no  firing  during  that  night. 

Soon  after  daylight  on  Sunday  murniug,  (the  20th.)  in  ohedience  to 
orders  from  ihc  Major  Gen.  commanding,  I  moved  by  the  right  flank  five 
hundred  paces,  inclining  a  little  to  the  rear,  so  as  to  keep  the  crc.>t  of 
the  ridge.  In  a  few  moments  the  skirmishers  encountered  a  sharp 
fire  from  the  enemy  and  were  rapidly  driven  in  on  the  right,  six  or 
eight  of  them  being  shot  down.  They  were  immeiliately  reinforced, 
pushed  cautiously  forward,  under  such  shelter  as  the  ground  and  lim- 
ber afl'orded,  to  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  but  so  near 
was  the  enemy  that  they  could  not  be  advanced  further  without  pro- 
voking^  an  engagement,  which  I  had  been  cautioned  to  avoid  until  our 
line  could  be  established.  Brigadier  Gener^  Bate  formed  on  my  right, 
but  at  an  angle  with  my  line,  his  right  retired.  In  a  short  time  after- 
ward Brigadier  General  Wood,  of  Cleburne's  division,  formed  on  my 
right,  a  little  in  front  of  Bate.  We  erected  temporary  defences  of 
logs,  rocks,  brush  and  such  other  materials  as  could  be  hastily  col- 
lected. 

At  about  half  past  ten,  A.  M.,  tno  enemy  commenced  shelling  us 
from  two  positions,  one  immediately  in  my  front,  about  four  hundred 
yards  distant,  and  the  other  more  to  my  right,  doing  but  little  damage. 

At  about  eleven  o'clock,  when  ordered  to  advance,  I  moved  in  line 
to  the  front,  preceded  by  my'skirmishers,  who  soon  driving  in  the 
enemy's  skirmishers,  rallied  upon  the  command.  We  moved  at  double- 
quick  nearly  three  hundred  yards  through  an  open  wood,  the  enemy 
retiring  before  us,  when  the  brigade  on  ray  right  broke  in  confusion. 
My  line  still  advanced  fifty  or  seventy-five  yards  further,  and  to  within 
fifty  yards  of  the  enemy's  battery  and  line  of  defences,  when  the  right, 
wholly  unsupported  and  receiving  a  terrible  cross  firo  of  musketry 
and  artillery  upon  its  flanks,  broke  and  retired  in  disorder  to  our  tem- 
porary defences.  I  found  all  efl'orts  to  rally  the  eighteenth  and  forty- 
fifth  Tennesse,  short  of  the  defences,  in  vain  and,  indeed,  impracticable, 
under  the  storm  of  grape  and  canister  which  prevailed  upon  every 
part  of  the  fitdd  over  which  these  two  regiments  passed.  The  centre 
and  left  continued  steadily  to  advance  until  they  crossed  the  Chatta- 
nooga road  two  or  ihrea  hundred  yards,  and  passed  the  battery  inour 
front,  but  on  the  right  flank  of  the  thirty-second  Tennessee  regiment. 
But  being  unsupported  on  the  right,  in  consequence  of  the  retreat  of 
the  eighteenth  and  forty-fifth  Tennessee  regiments,  it  became  neces- 
sary to  retire  the  remainder  of  .the  line,  because  to  have  advanced 
further  would  have  exposed  it  to  the  hazard  of  being  cut  off,  while,  to 
have  remained  stationary,  without  shelter  and  undor  fire  from  a  pro- 
tected foe,  would  have  sacrificed  the  men  without  obtaiuing  any  com- 
pensating advantage.  I  therefore  ordered  it  to  retire,  which  it  accom- 
plished in   comparatively  good  order,  to   the   original   line.     While 


ITl 

rcfcrniing  mj  line,  I  receive'l  a  slight  wound,  which  disabled  me  from 
dutj  for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  and  I  refer  to  the  report  of  Colonel 
Cook,  upon  whom  the  co.amand  devolved,  for  the  conduct  of  the  brig- 
ade in  the  evening. 

It  would  give  me  pleasure  to  mention  thedistinguished  valor  exhib- 
ited by  many  officers  and  men  throughout  the  action,  but  the  limits 
of  this  report  will  not  permit  it,  and,  by  implicnlion,  injustice  might 
be  done  to  others  not  named.  With  but  few  individual  exception?, 
the  whole  command  did  credit  to  the  noble  State  which  sent  it  into  the 
field,  and  added  new  lustre  to  the  cause  for  which  it  fought. 

To  the  regimental  commanders,  and  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hall, 
cf  the  forty-fifth,  and  Major  McGuire,  of  the  thirty-second,  wh'> 
respectively  commanded  the  skirmishers,  I  cheerfully  accord  the 
highest  meed  of  praise  for  bravery  and  skill.  In  the  death  of  Colonel 
Lillard,  the  country  lost  one  of  her  best  men  and  bravest  soldiers,  and 
his  Command  an  officer  whose  place  cannot  be  supplied.  I  feel  deeply 
the  loss  of  Colonel  Palmer's  services  in  the  field,  for  with  him  on  the 
right,  the  gallant  Cook  in  the  centre  and  the  brave  Lillard  on  the  left. 
I  lelt  tlie  utmost  confidence  in  the    unvarying  steadiness  of  my   line. 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  you.to  the  accompanying  reports  of  my  regi- 
mental commanders  (marked  A,  B,  C,  D  and  E)  for  detailed  accounts 
of  the  part  borne  by  those  several  commands. 

I  cannot  close  without  expressing  my  obligations  to  the  members  of 
my  staff,  Captain  II.  .J.  Cherry,  A.  A.  G.;  Captain  tiid.  II.  Low, 
A.  A.  Inspector  General,  and  Lieutenant  James  T.  Brown,  A.  D.  C, 
for  the  services  rendered  by  them  during  the  entire  engagement, 
ilore  gallant  men  could  not  be  found.  They  discharged  their  several 
duties  with  a  degree  ol  fidelity  and  intrepidity  which  mere  language 
cannot  reward.  Major  B.  P.  Roy,  A.  Q.  M.  General ;  Major  B.  F. 
Carter,  A.  C.  S. ;  Dr.  James  F.  Grant,  brigade  surgeon,  and  Liea- 
tecant  Mark  S.  Cockrille,  ordnance  officer,  performed  their  several 
duties  with  an  efficiency  and  zeal  deserving  the  highest  praise.  I  am 
also  indebted  to  George  B.  McCallum  and  M.  A.  Carter,  acting  stefl 
officers,  for  valuable  and  efficient  assistance  on  the  field  throughout 
the  battle. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be.  Major, 

Most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.   C.   BROWN,  Brgadier  Gcmral. 


REPORT  OF  BRIGADIER   GENERAL   B.  G.   IIUMPIIREYS 

ITkadquarters  Bkh.ade,      } 
Siar  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  October  S.  1863.  j 

'i  0  Major  J.  M.  GooftiN, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Ma^'or  :  In  obedience  to  orders,  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing report  of  the  part  taken  by  this  brigade  in  the  action  of  the 
iJ'ith  of  September: 

The  brigade  arrived  on  the  battle-field,  at  Alexander's  bridge,  at 
two  o'clock,  A.  JI.,  on  the  2(lth,  from  western  Virginia.  About  ten 
o'clock  General  Kershaw  ordered  me  into  line  of  battle  on  his  left. 
Heavy  firing  was  heard  in  our  front,  when  we  advanced  in  line 
parallel  to  the  Lafayette  road.  Crossing  tho  road,  we  found  the 
enemy  on  a  hill  at  the  edge  of  an  old  field.  General  Kershaw  at 
once  engngod  him  and  drove  him  from  his  position.  At  this  time 
(jeneral  Bushrod  Johnson  rode  up  to  me  and  requested  me  to  move 
rcy  brigade  to  General  Kershaw's  right,  as  tlic  enemy  were  massing 
in  that  diicction  and  threatening  a  flank  movement.  I  immediately 
moved  to  General  Kershaw's  right,  met  the  enemy  in  force,  drove  in 
his  skirmishers  and  found  him  entrenched  on  a  hill  with  artillery. 
After  engaging  him  ami  reconnoitering  his  position,  I  found  it  impos- 
sible to  drive  him  from  it. 

I  immediatel}'  informed  General  Longstreetof  the  enemy's  position 
and  Btrenglli,  and  received  orders  from  him  to  hold  my  position  with- 
out advancing,  while  be  sent  a  division  to  attack  him  on  the  right  and 
left.  The  attack  on  my  left  was  first  made,  with  doubtful  success;  the 
attack  on  my  right  was  successful,  driving  the  enemy  from  his  posi- 
tion in  gicat  confusion.  It  was  now  dark,  and  no  further  pursuit 
WAS  made. 

I  refer  you  to  the  accompanying  lists  of  casualties.  The  brigad- 
captured  during  the  day  over  four  hundred  prisoners,  five  stands  of 
colors  and  twelve  hundred  small  arms. 

On  the  22d,  learning  that  a  party  of  the  enemy  was  on  the  moun- 
tnin,  near  the  gap  at  Rossville,  1  detached  thirty  men  from  the  eigh- 
teenth regiment,  and  the  command  of  Ciiptain  Katclifl",  company  A, 
and  Lieutenant  Ottonburg,  of  company  K,  to  skirmish  for  them.  They 
succeeded  in  capturing  nine  olScers  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  men. 
making  a  total  of  prisoners  captured  by  the  brigade,  thirty-seven 
officers  and  five  hundred  and  thirty-five  men. 

The  individual  cases  of  gallantry  and  daring  among  the  oflicers  and 
nirn  were  numerous,  and  where  all  behaved  so  well  it  is  unnecessary 
to  particularize.  I  cannot  conclude  this  report  without  paying  a 
tribute  of  admiration  to  the  bearing  and  dauntless  courage  of  Briga- 
ilier  General  Kershaw  and  his  bravo  I'alinetto  boys,  who  have  so  long 
and  80  often  fought  side  by  side  with  the  Mississippi  troops.  The 
gttlUnt  and  heroic  daring  with  which  they  met  the  shock  of  battle, 


\ 


173 


and  irresis-.ibly  drove  back    the   Federal    hosts,  merits  the  highest 
encomiums  and  lasting  |»r3titudc  of  the  army  and  the  country. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

BENJAMIN  G.  IlUMrilREYS. 

BrigcJhr  General  commanding. 


JlErORT  OF   BRIGADIER  GEJ^ERAL  J.  B.  KERSHAW. 

IIkaDQ CARTERS  KeRSIIAW's  BriGABE,  > 

Near  Chattanooga,  October  15,  1S63,       ) 

SI:ijor  J,  M.  Gor.iaN, 

Assistant  Jdjvlant  General: 

Major:  I  res"pcctfullj  submit  the  following  report  of  the  operations 
of  rny  own  and  Ilumi^hreya'  brigade  in  the  late  battle  of  Ghickamau^a. 
The  mention  of  the  liitter  brigade  is  necessarily  general,  from  the 
fact  that  General  Humphreys"  report  did  not  pass  through  me,  and, 
being  on  foot  during  the  engAgement,  I  couM  only  assume  a  verjr 
general  command.  1  respectfully  refer  to  the  report  of  General  Hum- 
phreys for  more  particular  information  of  his  movements. 

At  midnight,  on  the  18th  of  September,  the  last  of  my  brigade 
arrived  at  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  near  Catoosa  station,  and  next 
morning  marched,  under  orders  from  the  General  commandir.g,  to 
Ringgold,  at  which  place  the  command  united  with  that  of  Brigadier 
(icneral  Humphreys.  About  nightfall  orders  were  received  from  the 
Lieutcn/lnt  General  commanding  to  join  General  Hood  with  the  com- 
mand. Conducted  by  Colonel  Dillard,  we  moved  at  once  across 
Alexander's  bridge  over  Chickamauga  creek,  and  bivouacked  at  one 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  20th.  At  nine  o'clock  we  were  ordered  by  the 
Lieutenant  General  commanding  to  a  position  in  reserve  to  Hood's 
division,  near  the  headquarters  of  the  commanding  General.  About 
cloven  o'clock  I  was  ordered  forward  with  the  command  to  report  to 
Major  General  Hood.  Arriving,  I  found  his  troops  engaged  in  front, 
and  a  line  of  battle  just  going  in.  General  Hood  directed  mn  to 
form  line  in  his  rear,  with  my  centre  resting  on  the  spot  whi'ie  I 
found  him,  which  I  suppose  was  his  centre.  Forming  line,  Hum- 
phreys on  my  le!t,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  under  fire  of  the  enemy, 
and  in  a  thick  wood,  I  moved  as  directed  ro  the  front.  I  had  been 
directed  to  occupy  a  line  of  breastworks,  but,  before  reaching  that 
point,  a«Btaff  officer  of  the  Lieutenant  General  commanding  wn-i  sent 
to  direct  me  to  a  point  further  in  advance  1  crossed  the  Liifiyette 
road  near  a  house,  and,  crossing  the  open  ground,  entered  the  voods 
beyomi,  and  proceeded  nearly  to  what  I  understood  to  be  the  Cove 
road.  While  passing  through  the  last  wood  Lieutenant  (Jeneral 
Longstreet  directed  me  to  look  out  for  my  right  flank,  and  I  had  dis- 
posed of  Colonel  Ilenuagan'^  eighth  Souih  Carolina,  my  right  regi- 
ment, in  such  a  manner  as  to  cover  mo  in  that  ilirection  as  I  su|'posed. 
Having  reached  the  point  last  mentioned,  the  firing  on  my  light  brcame 
Tery  heavy,  and  a  portion  of  General  Hood's  division  fell  h:ick  nlong 
niy  line.  1  changed  front  almost  perpendicularly  to  the  right  ou  ('olo- 
nel  I^ance's  third  South  Carolina  reginmit,  my  left  centre,  ^\hic:h  I  had 
indicated  as  the  directing  battalion.  This  movement  had  just  been 
aecompliehed  when  an  olficer  of  Brigadier  General  Law's  staft  informed 
me  of  the  unfortunate  loss  of  Major  General  Hood,  and  euggetited 


175 

fhut,  as  senior  brigadier,  I  should  assume  the  direction  of  the  two 
brigades  of  that  division  on  my  right.  Gci^ral  Bushrod  Johnson  was 
present  and  called  for  a  comparison  of  rank,  which  seemed  to  satisfy 
Lim.  Major  Cunningham,  assistant  inspector  general,  General  Hood's 
staff,  who  had  been  sent  by  the  General  tu  conduct  mo,  made  the  oppor- 
tune soggestJon  that  the  Lieutenant  General  commanding  be  informed. 
Relieved  by  this,  I  re^iuested  him  to  direct  General  llumphreys  to 
move  up  and  support  me  on  my  right,  he  having  been  thrown  in 
my  rear  by  my  change  of  front.  General  Johnson  had  undertaken  to 
advance  a  brigade  on  my  left.  The  enemy  occupied  a  skirt  of  wood 
en  the  far  sijle  of  the  field  around  Dyer's  house ;  his  right  extending 
into  the  wood  beyond  the  field,  his  left  crossing  the  Cove  road.  His 
colors  were  ostentatiouely  displayed  along  the  lines.  The  last  of 
Hood's  division  engaged  in  my  front  had  just  retired,  when  I  ordered 
the  atlvance,  directing  Colonel  Hennagan  to  extcLd  to  the  right  and 
engage  the  enemy  in  that  direction  until  Humphreys'  arrival,  who  was 
t'aen  in  motion.  The  distance  across  the  field  was  about  eight  hun- 
dred yards,  with  a  fence  intervening  about  one  quarter  of  the  distance. 
As  soon  as  we  crossed  the  fence  I  ordered  bayonets  fixed,  and  moved 
at  a  double-quick,  sending  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gailiard's  second  South 
Carolina  regiment,  my  extreme  left,  to  gain  the  enemy's  right  flank. 
When  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy  they  broke,  and  I 
opened  fire  upon  them  along  the  whole  Mae,  but  pursued  them  rapidly 
over  the  first  line  of  hills  to  the  foot  of  the  second,  when  I  halt"d 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  on  the  heiglits,  theltering  the  men  as 
much  as  possible,  and  there  awaited  the  coming  of  Humphreys  on  my 
right.  The  seventh  South  Carolina,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bland,  my 
right  centre  regiment,  and  the  fifteenth  South  Carolina  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Joseph  F.  Gist,  had  obliqued  to  the  right.  Colonel  Henna- 
gan had  pursued  the  enemy  so  far  to  the  right  that,  when  Humphreys 
got  up,  he  occupied  the  interval  between  the  fifteenth  and  eighth  regi- 
ments. Colonel  Gates,  fifteenth  Alabama,  Law's  brigade,  came  up 
oa  the  right  of  the  seventh  and  occupied  the  line  between  that  and 
the  fifteenth,  and  with  those  regiments  advanced  without  orders.  I 
had  sent  to  the  right  to  direct  that  I  should  be  informed  when  Hum- 
phreys arrived. 

Hearing  the  firing  renewed  on  my  right,  I  advanced  the  left  wing, 
third  South  Carolina,  James  battalion  and  second  South  Carolina,  and 
gained,  in  some  points,  the  crest  of  the  hill  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
enemy's  lines.  After  one  of  the  most  gallant  struggles  I  have  ever 
witnessed,  especially  on_the  part  of  the  third  South  Carolina  and 
James'  battalion,  which  occupied  a  position  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
battery,  I  was  cotnpelled  to  fall  back  to  a  point  about  two  luuidred 
and  fifty  yards,  where  I  determined  to  hold  the  enemy  until  rcinforcs* 
incnt«  arrived.  The  enemy  soon  advanced,  but,  by  a  cool,  delil>erato 
fire,  were  quickly  repulsed.  General  Humphreys  reported  tliiit  he 
could  make  no  further  advance  on  account  of  the  heary  force  of  the 
♦•ripmy  to  his  right.  I  directed  him  to  mako  such  disposition  of  bis 
-  as  would  cover  ray  right  f.ank.  About  three  o'clock  Brigadier 
al   Andersons    Mississippi    brigade   came  to   my  support.     I 


i\<:»CTi\>e(\  to  him  the  situation,  and  suggested  an  attack  on  the  right 
flank  of  the  position  of  li^e  enemy,  llo  acquiesced  in  iny  view  and 
advanced  his  left  preparatory  to  the  movement,  covering  his  front  with 
ekirmishers,  who  immediately  became  engaged,  and  drove  in  those  of 
the  enemy ;  but,  raising  a  shout  along  their  lines,  they  advanced  their 
line  of  battle  at  a  charge,  driving  back  Anderson's  brigade  in  some 
confusion.  With  hearty  cheers  the  second  and  third  South  Carolina 
and  James'  battalion  engaged  them  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm  : 
Anderson's  brigade  promptly  reformed  and  opened  fire.  His  reserve 
regiment  came  up,  and,  in  ten  minutes  time,  the  enemy  was  driven 
pell-mell.  The  second  South  Carolina  and  Anderson's  brigade  dashed 
after  him  and  drove  him  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  second  South 
Carolina  reaching  the  crest.  The  troops  to  his  left  having  fallen  back 
to  their  former  position.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gaillard  says  in  his 
report  that  "  he  was  obliged,  reluctantly,  to  fall  back."  This  was  an 
attack  on  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  the  line  was  at  an  oblique 
angle  to  my  line.  All  of  my  regiments,  except  the  second,  though 
not  participating  in  the  direct  attack,  served  to  hold  the  enemy  in 
position  along  that  portion  of  the  line,  and  were  mostly  engaged 
during  the  attack.  About'four  o'clock  Gracie'e  and  Kelly's  brigades 
came  up  and  reported  to  me.  I  directed  them,  the  former  to  form  on 
my  rear,  and  the  latter  to  form  on  Oracle's  left.  General  Ilindman 
informed  me  that  he  was  aboUt  to  attack  on  Anderson's  left,  well  on 
the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  with  two  ^brigades  of  infantry,  with 
artillery.  Soon  after,  he  opened  heavily  in  that  direction,  but  sent 
me  word  the  attack  was  likely  to  fail  unless  a  demonstration  was  made 
along  the  front.  1  determined  on  an  attack,  combining  all  our  forces. 
McNair's  brigade,  which  bad  come  up  on  my  right,  Gracie's.  Kelly's, 
Anderson's,  my  eighth,  fifteenth  and  second  regiments  participating. 
The  rest  of  my  brigade  being,  in  whole  or  in  part,  out  oframmuni- 
tion,  remained  in  reserve  at  their  position.  This  was  one  of  the 
heaviest  attacks  of  the  war  on  a  single  point.  The  brigades  went  in 
in  magnificent  order;  General  Gracie,  under  my  own  eye,  led  his 
brigade,  now  for  the  first  time  under  fire,  most  gallantly  and  cfiiciently  ; 
and,  for  more  than  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  struggle  continued  with 
unabated  fury.  It  terminated  at  sunset — the  secoml  South  Carolina 
being  among  the  last  to  retire.  At  dark  General  Robinson,  of  Hood's 
division,  came  up  with  bis  brigade  and  picketed  to  my  front.  About 
ten  o'clock,  I  think,  he  informed  me  that  tho  enemy  had  left.  I  imme- 
diately communicated  the  fact  to  the  Lieutenant  General  commanding. 
]n  the  morning  General  Robinson  withdrew,  and  I  sent  forward 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Gaillard  to  take  possession  of  the  enemy's  hospital 
and  to  picket  to  the  front.  The  day  was  spent  in  caring  for  the 
wounded,  burying  the  dead  and  collecting  arms.  In  the  afternoon 
Major  General  McLaws  resumed  command  of  the  division.  My 
brigade  was  marched  a  few  miles  that  night  towards  Chattanooga,  and 
next  day  drove  in  the  enemy  to  their  present  lines,  in  conjunction 
with  Woflford's  brigade,  my  eighth  South  Carolina  being  chiefly 
engaged.  But  few  men  were  lost  in  this  affair.  During  the  first 
charge  of  the  2i)th  my  brigade  captured  nine  pieces  of  artillery. 


177 

throe  of  which  were  taken  by  the  eighth  South  C»roliua,  and  some 
half  dozen  caissons,  with  ammunition.  Most  of  those  wcre_  taken 
before  tliey  could  open  firo.  My  losses  were  fcoavy,  as  will  be  seen  by 
reference  to  the  accompanying;  detailed  report  Among  tlicra  are 
Bome  of  the  most  gallant  and  efficient  offic'.^rs  and  men  of  my  com- 
mand, and  choice  spirits  of  Caridina  chivalry.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Elbert  Bland,  eavcnth  South  Carolina,  fell  at  the  head  of  his  regiment 
in  the  first  moment  of  our  triumph.  A  fow  moraentR  later.  Major 
John  S  Hard,  his  successor,  was  instai;tly  killed.  The  command 
then  devolved  on  Captain  E  J.  Gogein.  Captain  J  M.  Townsend, 
Cf'Uimanding  James'  battalion,  was  killed,  leading  the  charge  u;^on 
the  entray's  stronghold.  ]..ieuteria!it  Colonel  lioole,  eighth  South 
Carolina  regiment,  was  killed  in  the  early  part  of  the  action.  Lieu- 
tenant ColoiK.d  BUnd  was  recognized  generally  tvs  an  officer  of  rare 
sbiiity.  Ills  power  of  command,  his  cool,  d*untless  courage  and 
Btif-control  in  battle,  his  excellent  judgment,  disciplinary  skill  and 
ability  in  camp,  marked  him  as  a  man  of  a  high  order  of  military 
talent.  His  per.^onal  and  social  characteristics  were  equally  noble 
and  elevated.  In  him  we  have  lost  a  champion  worthy  of  our  glorious 
cause.  Major  John  S.  Hard  was  a  gallant  and  accomplished  officer, 
and  has  highly  distinguished  himself  on  every  battie-ficld  in  which 
his  rfgiment  has  been  engaged.  Captain  Townsend  commanded  his 
battalion,  on  this  occasion,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  elicit  my  cimmea- 
diition  on  the  field,  b'-fore  he  fell,  and  would,  if  he  were  living,  have 
been  here  mentioned  with  high  distinction  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hoole 
■Whs  an  officer  ot  much  merit,  hut  has  been  prevented  by  protracted 
illness  from  attaining  that  distinction  he  might  have  achieved  with 
his  gallant  regiment.  He  was  much  beloved  for  his  persoiral  qualiticH, 
and  Lis  loss  will  he  deeply  depb.red  by  his  comrades.  For  particular 
loeniion  tf  other  brave  spirits  who  have  fallen,  I  respectfully  refer  to 
the  accompanying  reports  of  regimental  coinraanders  My  pride  and 
caiisiaction  with  the  conduct  of  my  entire  brigade,  in  the  engage- 
in-:'^,  could  not  be  more  complete.  Officers  and  men,  each  acted  as  if 
impressed  with  the  feeling  that  the  destinies  of  the  country  depended 
upon  his  o«n  faithful,  earnest  and  intelligent  discbarge  of  duty.  I 
shall  Dot  attempt  to  particularize. 

The  only  member  of  my  staff  with  me  duriiig  the  wtfole  day  was 
Captain  C  U  Holmes,  A.  A.  G.  To  him,  as  on  all  previous  occa- 
sioiiS  of  this  character,  1  am  greatly  indebted  for  the  most  valuable  and 
gallant  services.  He  represented  me  on  the  right  wing  of  my  brigade. 
I  detailed  Second  Lieutenant  H.  L.  Tarley  to  act  as  aid-de  camp, 
and  cannot  too  highly  commend  his  gallantry,  activity  and  efficiency 
under  the  mo.st  trying  circumntanceB.  As  an  evidence  of  my  apprecia- 
tiiri,  1  detailed  him  to  accompany  the  captured  flxgs  to  Richmond. 
Lieutenant  \V.  M.  Dwight,  A  A.  and  1.  G.,  joined  me  in  the  after- 
noon and  aided  mc  with  his  nsaal  efficiency.    • 

In  the  absence  of  horses  f.)r  myself  and  staff,  I  detailed  one  man 

from  each  regiment  as  orderlies  to  communicate  with  the  command. 

All  of  them  rendered  efficient  service,  and  two,  M.  Y.  Milan,  company 

A,  third  South  Carolina  rcgiinent,  and   Rawlins  Rirere,  company  I, 

12 


178 

second  South  Carolina  regiment,  wer«  liillcd  in  the  diacbarge  of  that 
duty.     Rivera  had  attracted  mj  notice  by  gnllant  and  intelligent  eer- 
ricea  in  the  same  position  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  B.  KERSHAW, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 


REPORT    OF    COLONEL     C.    C.    WILSO-N,    COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

IlEtDQUARTERS    WiL'^on's     BrIB^DE,  t 

Missionary  Ridge,  Oct.  I,  I6^i.      \ 

Captain  Joseph  B.  Cumminc, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Captain:  It  was  not  until  one  o'clock  on  Friday  night,  the  ISth 
instant,  that  my  brigade  succeeded  in  crossing  Shaelan  ford,  on  the 
Ohickamauga  river,  the  road  having  been  blocked  up  by  the  vragona 
and  artillery  traint  of  the  brigades  and  divisions  which  preceded  as 
on  the  march.  We  bivouacked  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  that 
uight,  prepared  to  follow  our  division  on  the  next  day's  march.  Tha 
ordnance  train  of  the  division  not  having  succeeded  in  crossing 
Friday  ni^hf.  I  was  directed  by  special  order  from  division  headijuir- 
ters  to  remain  with  the  train,  holding  my  t)rigade  as  a  guard  until  it 
had  cro.jjcd,  and  then  to  rejoin  the  division.  I  immediately  detached 
the  thirtieth  Georgia  regiiaont  and  sent  it  to  the  ford  as  a  guard  to 
♦hat  portion  of  the  train  that  hal  n.>t  crossed,  anil  to  furnish  fiitigue 
parties  to  help  forward  disabled  or  stalled  wagons,  having  first  recon- 
uoitred  the  po^'ilion  and  thrown  out  two  companies  on  each  road  lead- 
ing to  the  for.l  to  guird  agiinst  suprise  by  the  enemy.  Aboat  nine 
/clock,  A.  M.,  the  whole  train  had  crossed  and  was  put  in  motion, 
>ith  the  twenty-fifth  tieorgia  and  a  section  ot  the  battery  a'lead  ai  an 
advance  guard  and  the  rest  of  the  bnga  le  in  rear.  In  '.his  ord«r  we 
had  i;iarched  about  two  milfs  from  the  fi.rd.  to  ihe  intersection  of  the 
road  from  Alexander's  bridge  with  the  road  to  Le-  &  Gordon's  mill, 
whfn  I  received,  from  one  of  General  Korrest'*  staff,  an  order  from 
diki-ion  headquarters,  directing  me  to  go  witii  (ieneral  Forrest  ani 
fbey  his  ordi-ra.  The  train  was  thervopon  si-nt  forward  alone,  and 
the  brigade  filed  to  the  right  on  the  Alexander's  bridge  road,  con- 
ducted by  the  ptaff  officer  wlio  h«d  brought  me  the  order  One  com- 
paiiy.  however,  of  the  thirtieth  (Jeorgia  ngim'-nt.  which  had  beea 
thrown  out  as  Bkinnishera  from  the  ford,  h  I'l  not  yet  ovcrtiken  he 
regiment,  and  did  not  uiitil  the  fight  wa^  over,  but  fell  in  on  the  left  of 
Gennral  Ector  8  brigade,  and  behaved  gallantly,  as  I  atn  informod, 
durifig  the  engagem-nt  of  that  day.  This  was  company  B.  Captain 
Hitch.  Kidittg  forward  with  General  Forrest,  he  informed  me  that 
the  enemy,  in  considerable  force,  were  engaging  his  cavalry  to  the 
right  and  front  of  my  position,  and  he  directed  me  to  select  a  posi'ion 
mod  form  lino  of  battle  on  the  left  of  the  roail.  1  formed  my  line  on 
the  ridge  of  the  long  Lill  which,  from  the  northeast,  overlook*  and 
commands  the  plain  whore  oui  first  encounter  with  the  enemy  took 
place,  posting  the  artillery  by  sections  on  the  most  elevated  position* 
and  opposite  to  the  intervals  between  rt>giment«.  We  had  not 
remained  in  this  position  long  when  an  order  frooi  General  Forrest 
loformed  me  that  the  enemy  'wcre  pressing  him  sorely  in  front,  and 


ISO 

directed  me  to  move  npon  his  left.  Tbis  order  was  promptly  cxo- 
cntcd,  the  brigade  rioving  ofT  by  the  right  flunk,  and  filing  up  the 
Aieiander's  bridge  road  about  three-eighths  of  a  mile  was  formed 
forward  into  line.  The  line  t\-:\8  scarctly  formed  when  firing  com- 
menced on  the  left.  The  order  wns  given  to  move  forward  :U  once, 
and  the  line  stepped  off  with  the  enthusiasm  of  high  hope  and  patriotic 
determination  and  the  precision  and  accuracy  which  only  disciplined 
and  instructed  troops  can  attain.  The  enemy's  skirmishers  were 
encountered  at  once  and  driven  in  on  their  first  line,  which  opened 
upon  us  a  terrific  fire.  Steadily  the  line  moved  forward  and  poured 
into  the  enem\"g  ranks  a  wtUdirectod  fire,  which  very  soon  caused 
his  line  to  break  and  fly  from  thi-  field  in  c infusion,  lcavir;g  dead  and 
wounded  covering  the  field  over  which  we  marched.  The  command 
still  pressed  forward  on  the  retreating  foe,  and  soon  encountered  a 
second  line  of  battle,  which  seemed  to  have  been  drawn  up  three  or 
four  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  the  first;  then  again  the  contest  was 
renewed  with  great  energy,  and  the  position  di  puted  with  stubborn 
resolve.  The  firing  at  this  point  was  terrific,  and  many  brave  olficers 
and  men  fell  while  gallantly  discharging  their  duties.  For  a  time 
our  lino  wavered,  and  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  seemed 
determined  to  drive  us  from  tho  field.  Rallying  from  the  shock  of 
this  new  encounter,  our  line  agiun  moved  forwunl  with  determination 
and  energy,  and  finally  succeeded  in  driving  back  the  enemy's  second 
line  in  confusion  to  his  breastworks,  which  had  been  erected  of  fallun 
trees  about  four  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  his  second  lino.  At  this 
time  an  order  from  General  Forrest  directed  me  not  to  press  the  cneiuj 
further,  but  in  tho  meantime  our  lino  had  come  within  range  of  the 
breastworks,  from  which  a  constant  and  galling  fire  was  poured  into 
oiH"  ranks,  and  a  heavy  force  was  moving  around  our  left  flank.  1  at 
once  despatched  one  ot  my  staff  to  General  Ector,  who  1  knew  was  a 
short  distance  in  our  rear,  with  a  n  quest  that  he  would  move  up  on 
my  left.  But  before  my  messenger  reached  him,  General  Forrest 
had  ordered  his  brigade  to  the  rigiit — a  positiou  held  up  to  thai  time 
by  the  cavalry.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy,  having  tunned  my  left, 
poured  an  enhlading  fire  into  our  thinned  ranks,  and  compelled  the 
whole  left  of  the  line  to  fall  buck,  including  the  thirtieth  Georgia 
regiment,  which  occupied  the  centre.  Observing  this  movement,  i;ud 
presfied  by  a  galling  tire  in  front,  the  right  of  the  line,  made  up  of  the 
twenty-filth  and  twenty-ninth  Georgia  regiments,  began  slowly  to  fall 
back.  'I his  movement  having  been  promptly  arrested,  1  passed 
towards  the  left  with  a  view  of  rallying  the  rest  of  the  brig;ide,  and 
succeeded  in  restoring  some  order  to  ilie  thinned  ranks  of  the  thirtieth 
Georgia,  when  1  discovered  the  enemy  still  pressing  around  the  left 
towards  an  open  field,  through  which  our  liuo  had  advanced.  I  there- 
upon directed  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eoynton,  then  commanding  the 
thirtieth  Georgia,  to  f.dl  back  a  little  further  to  a  wood  on  the  left  of 
the  road,  intending  to  reform  on  it.  While  this  was  being  dono. 
General  Ector's  brigade  went  in  on  tho  right  of  my  lino  and  the 
twenty-fifth  and  twenty-ninth  Georgia  regiments  went  with  this  brig- 
ade again  into  the  action,  and  remained  with  it  during  the  fight  of 


ISl 

that  Irigsdc,  and  tKe  sliarpsbooters  nod  Louisiana  battalion  were 
rallied  and  rcf'irraed  iu  rear  of  other  troops  of  our  division,  wliicb  at 
this  time  had  come  up  to  our  relief.  Having  been  reformed  and  our 
cartridge-boxes  replenished,  the  brigade  took  up  ils  position  agiin, 
remained  on  the  batilc  field  that  night,  and  moved  with  the  division 
next  d:ij. 

During  the  action  of  fhia  day,  (Sunday,  the  20th  instant,)  il  was 
not  our  fortune  to  be  much  engaged.  Our  ranks  had  been  much 
reduced,  and  we  mustered  not  over  four  hundred  an!  fifty  aggregate. 
About  twelve,  M.,  the  right  of  our  lice  having  advanced  some  distance, 
we  engaged  the  enemy  in  a  thick  wood,  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
Chattanooga  road,  in  connection  with  General  Gist's  brigade,  which 
was  ia  front  of  us,  and  General  Ector's,  which  was  in  our  rear.  At 
this  time  the  three  brigades  were  occupying  the  same  line  nearly,  and 
this  arrangement  necessarily  resulted  in  some  confusion.  After  a 
Tery  unsatisfactory  Cght,  lasting  probably  forty-five  minutes,  and  in 
which  we  lost  some  valuable  officers  and  a  few  men.  we  were  ordered 
to  fall  back  and  reform.  This  was  accomplished,  the  line  falling 
back  a  few  hundred  yardsi,  where  we  remained  until  about  five,  P.  M., 
when  the  line  was  reformed,  with  General  Gist's  brigade  on  the  right, 
<jeneral  Ector's  on  the  loft  and  mine  in  the  centre — the  division  being 
under  command  of  Gen.  Gist — and  advanced  to  the  last  charge,  meet- 
ing, however,  no  enemy,  and  having  the  Satisfaction  of  taking  up  our 
bivouac  upon  the  f; -Id  from  which  our  enemy  had  been  driven  in  con- 
fusion. This  brigade  entered  the  fcght  with  an  effective  force  of 
twelve  hundred  men,  and  lost,  during  the  two  days'  fighting,  ninety- 
nine  killed,  four  hundred  and  twenty-sis  wounded  and  eighty  missing. 
Of  the  number  missing,  many  were  wounded  and  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands,  but  were  recaptured  with  the  field  hospital  he  had  established 
near  the  battlc-ficll.  Of  the  number  wounded  several  have  since 
died,  among  them  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  J  Williams,  commanding 
twenty-fifth  Georgia  regiment,  a  brave  and  gallant  officer,  to  whom 
muih  praise  is  due  for  his  conduct  on  the  field,  lie  fell  at  his  post 
Bad  in  the  efficient  discharge  of  his  duties. 

A  list  of  killed  and  wounlcd  officers  having  been  furnished,  I  deem 
it  unnecessary  to  embody  it  in  this  report.  I  may  be  permitted  to 
iay.  however,  that  among  them  were  numbered  the  bravest,  the  truest 
Knd  the  best.  Where  all  behaved  so  well,  it  would  be  invidious  to  draw 
distinctions.  I  know  of  no  instance  in  which  any  officer  shrunk  from 
the  discharfrc  of  his  duty,  and  in  mentioning  a  few  who  fell  under  my 
own  obEcrvation  I  do  not  mean  to  disparage  those  who  did  not.  I 
notice,  as  worthy  of  commendation,  the  cases  of  Captains  A.  W.  and 
A.  U.  Smith,  of  the  twenty-fifih  Georgia  regiment,  and  Captain 
Spencer,  of  the  twcnty-nint*i  Georgia  regiment.  Lieutenants  Allred 
Bryant  aad  A  IJ  Sadler,  of  the  first  battalion  Georgia  sharpshooters, 
who,  notwithstanding  they  were  wounded,  remained  wi'h  their  com- 
mands through  the  fight  and  discharged  their  duties  to  ihe  end.  I 
respectfully  ask  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  Major  General 
VSomraanding  to  ih"^  cases  of  mj  assistant  a  Ijutant  ani  m'^pector  general. 
First  Lieatenant  Robert  Wajne,  and  of  my  acting  assieuat  adjuunt 


133 

general,  Firct  Lieutenant  R.  E.  Lester.  The  first  was  seriously 
iroun<icci  in  the  leg  whilst  in  the  Kiischarge  of  his  duties,  and  Lieu- 
tennnt  Lester  wns  wounded  in  the  he^d  and  abdomen,  under  the  snme 
circumstarces,  and  had  two  horses  killed  under  him.  They  were 
both  conspiruous  in  the  fight,  riding  fearlessly  along  the  line  in  the 
tbickeBt  of  it,  distributing  orders,  rallying  the  men  when  broken, 
and  fretting  an  example  to  all  of  courage  and  devotion,  ard  of  a  cool 
and  intelligent  discharge  of  duty  under  the  most  trying  cirenmstsncef. 
worthy  of  all  rommendaiion.  I  acknowledge  myself  greatlj  indebted 
to  them.  1  reppi  ctfuUy  aek  their  promotion  to  the  mnk  of  captiiins 
in  the  department  in  which  they  are  serving.  I  alfo  tnke  great  plea- 
sure in  noticing  the  cases  of  First  Lieutenant  G  R.  McRae,  adjutant 
of  the  twi  nty-ninth  Georgia  regiment,  who  wns  conspicuous  in  the 
fight,  encouraging  his  men  and  rallying  them  when  broken,  and  who, 
being  It-ft  senior  offiaer  after  the  first  engagement,  assumed  command 
of  the  broken  remnants,  and  gallantly  led  them  in  again  on  the  lettcf 
Ginersl  Ector's  brigade. 

Duiing  the  first  day's  fighting  many  prisoners  were  taken,  but  they 
were  turned  over  at  once  and  no  account  Isept  of  them,  and  many 
were  sent  to  the  rear  without  a  guard,  not  having  men  to  spare  for 
that  purpose.  One  section  of  my  battery  alore  was  able  to  get  into 
position,  and  did  some  service.  The  enemy  had  r.o  artillery  in  cur 
front,  and  we  took  no  pieces.  The  field  was  not  such  as  to  render 
artillery  useful. 

In  addition  to  the  officers  above  named  who.  being  wounded, 
remained  on  the  field,  I  will  add  the  name  of  First  Lieutenant  A.  II. 
Ilarrell,  company  II,  twenty-ninth  Georgia  regiment.  About  one 
o'clock  Sunday  afternoon  private  Thomas  Henderson,  company  A, 
fourth  Louisiana  battalion,  was  cafitured  by  the  enemy — he  being  in 
advance  of  his  battalioi — but  when  the  rout  of  the  enemy  commenced 
made  his  escape  from  his  guard,  and,  ("eizing  a  rifle,  on  his  return  to 
our  lines  captured  and  brought  in  six  of  the  enemy  as  prisonerp, 
dtdivering  theui  to  the  guard  of  Brigadier  General  Bate. 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully,  jour  obt-dient  servant, 

C    C.  WILSON, 
Colonel  commanding  Brigade. 


REPORT   OF   COLONEL    A.   J.  VAUGIIAN,  COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

BntGADE    ITEADaCAKTERS    IN    FlELt),         ) 

In  front  of  Chattanooga,   Tcnnes';ee,  October  4,    1863.  f 

Major  J.  G.  PoHTtr., 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Major  :  I  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report  of  tbe  action  of 
General  Preston  Smith's  hrignde,  (composed  of  the  one  hundred  and 
fifty-fourth  and  thirteenth  Tennessee  regiments,  under  command  of 
Colonel  A.  J.  Vaughan,  Jr  ;  twelfth  and  forty-seventh  Tennef'sec 
regiments,  under  command  of  Colonel  W.  M.  Watkius;  eleventh  Ten- 
nesBce  regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel  G.  W.  Gordon  ;  twenty- 
ninth  Tennessee  regiment,  under  command  of  Colonel  Horace  Rice  , 
Scott's  battery,  under  command  of  First  Lieutenant  John  H.  Marsh  ; 
«nd  a  battalion  of  sharpshooters,  composed  of  two  companies  from 
the  twelfth  and  forty- seventh  Tennessee  regiments,  one  from  the  one 
hundred  and  fifty-fourth  Tennessee  regiment,  one  from  tbe  eleventh 
and  one  from  the  twenty-ninth  Tennessee  regiments,  under  command 
of  Major  J.  W.  Dawson,  one  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  senior  Tenne«?ee 
regiment,  and  M.ijor  William  Green,  eleventh  Tennessee  regiment,) 
Cbeatham"s  division,  Polk's  corps,  army  of  Tennessee,  in  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga  and  the  occupation  of  Missionary  ridge,  on  the  19th, 
litth,  21st  and  22nd  days  of  September,  1863: 

On  tbe  evening  of  the  1 7th  September  orders  were  received  to 
move  General  Preston  Smith's  brigade  out  on  the  Ringgold  road  to 
the  intersection  of  Lee  &  Gordon's  mill  road,  thence  to  Rock  Spring 
church,  where  we  bivouacked  for  the  night  in  line  of  battle. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  ISth  of  September  we  were  ordered 
to  move  forward  in  the  direction  of  the  ford  below  Lee  &  Gordon's 
mill,  on  West  Chickamauga.  Our  advance  during  the  day  was  very 
slow,  having  to  wait  for  Buckncr's  corps  to  pass  to  the  front  and  effect 
a  crossing  of  the  creek,  which  they  succeeded  in  doing  about  dark, 
after  heavy  skirmishing.  We  bivouacked  at  night,  in  line  of  battle, 
half  a  mile  south  of  West  Chickamauga. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  September  the  brigade  moved 
forward,  crossed  the  creek,  and  foriucd  in  line  of  battle  on  the  left  of 
Jackson's  brigade.  As  soon  as  the  division  effected  a  crossing,  w» 
moved  forward  nenr  a  mile,  and  formed  line  in  similar  order  in  rear 
of  Buckner'i  corps.  We  remained  in  this  position  a  short  time, 
when  we  received  orders  to  move  by  the  right  flank,  in  double-quick, 
to  the  support  of  General  Walker,  who  for  some  time  had  been 
actively  engaging  the  enemy.  On  arriving  at  the  scene  of  action, 
we  found  General  Walker  atontly  resisted,  and  his  command  much 
cxh*nsted  from  long  and  continued  action.  We  were  ordered  to  form 
line  immediately.  Formed,  as  before,  on  left  of  General  Jackson'* 
brigade.     At  soon  as  formed,  we  were  ordered  to  adraoce  and  engag* 


1S4 

the  enemy.  AVc  advanced  but  a  short  distance  before  ^o  met  the 
enemy,  advancing.  We  engaged  hira  at  once  and  furiously  drove 
him  bi'fore  us  six  or  eight  hundred  j«rda,  forcing  him  to  take  sholior 
behind  the  breastworks  from  which  he. had  advanced  in  the  morning. 
We  moved  steadily  forward  until  within  mu^ket-rangc  of  their  works, 
and,  notwithsianding  we  were  subjected  to  a  severe  and  concentrated 
fiic  both  of  musketry  and  artillery,  the  brigade  kept  up  a  steady  and 
determined  fire  until  the  supply  of  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted. 
General  Sniith,  being  apprised  of  this,  immoiiiately  informed  General 
Cheatham  of  the  fact,  at  the  same  time  assuring  him  he  was  able  to 
hold  the  position  until  he  could  forwnrd  a  brigade  to  his  relief.  Gen- 
eral Strahl  was  ordered  forward.  As  soon  as  he  occupied  General 
Smith's  position.  General  Smith  withdrew  his  brigade,  moved  some  . 
four  hundred  yards  to  the  rear,  and  reformed  his  line. 

Inuring  this  engagement,  beginning  at  about  twelve  o'clock,  M  , 
and  closing  about  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  otticors  and  men  of  the  dif- 
ferent regiments  of  the  brigade  acted  with  conspicuous  gallantry, 
dischargii!g  every  duty  and  responding  to  every  order,  with  commen- 
dable promptness.' 

Since  all  ucted  so  v.ell,  I  canrot  particularise.  Scott's  battery, 
ur.dtr  First  Lieutenant  John  II.  Marsh,  advanced  with  the  brigade, 
and  took  position,  as  ordered,  under  a  heavy  and  destructive  fire  of 
the  enemy,  so  much  so,  that  a  number  of 'men  and  horses  were  dis- 
abled before  the  battery  was  placed  for  action.  Immediately  a  rapid 
and  well  directed  fire  was  opened  upon  the  enemy,  with  tilling  effect 
upon  his  fiu.ks.  This  fire  was  vigorously  maintained  until  the  brig- 
ade was  relieved  and  ordered  to  the  rear.  It  was  in  this  engagement 
that  First  Lieutenant  John  II.  Marsh  was  severely,  if  not  danger- 
ously, wounded,  while  gallantly  encouraging  his  men  and  ins])iiing 
them  by  his  own  distinguished  coolness  and  heroism  The  command 
then  devolved  upon  Second  Lieutenant  A.  T.  Watson,  who,  through- 
out the  cng.igcment,  acted  with  commendable  bravery. 

In  bringing  on  the  engagement  and  in  driving  the  enemy  the 
battalion  of  sharpshooters  did  efficient  service,  both  ofGcers  and  men 
acting  well  their  parts. 

Afier  supplying  the  command  with  ammunition  and  taking  position 
as  ordered,  it  was  found  that  Scott's  battery  was  so  disabled,  by /the 
loss  of  men  and  horses,  as  to  be  unfit  for  action  during  the  evening. 
Turner's  battery,  of  Maney's  brigade,  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen- 
eral Smith.  It  was  placed  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  and  did 
effective  service  in  checking  the  second  advance  of  the  enemy. 
Throughout  the  evening  Lieutenant  Turner  poured  a  murderous  firo 
into  the  enemy's  ranks,  his  coolness  and  disregard  of  danger  eliciting 
the  highest  praise  from  the  officers  and  men  of  the  entire  brigade. 
It  was  while  supporting  this  battery  that  Major  Da  Tson,  one  hundred 
and  fifty-fourth  senior  Tennessee  regiment,  in  command  of  the  bat- 
talion of  sharpfhooters,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  groin. 

The  enemy,  finding  it  impossible  to  drive  us  from  our  position, 
selUnly  retired  out  of  range,  and  comparative  quiet  prevailed  along 
our  line  until  six  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  General  Smith,  being  informed 


185 

that  &  nigiU  attack  wns  deterniiDe(j  upon,  was  orJereJ,  so  Foon  a^ 
(.leDcral  Desliler's  brigade  of  Major  General  Cleburne's  division 
Bhoul''.  advance  to  his  front,  to  move  his  brigade  forward  as  Gencr.il 
Besliler's  support.  After  hnving  advanced  in  this  order  some  tvct 
hundred  yards,  tiic  engngcment  uas  commenced  on  the  right  and 
fxtended  to  DeHhler'e  brigide  in  our  front.  Advancinjj  a  .short  dis- 
tance further,  it  beinfr  quite  dark,  a  portion  of  this  brigade  became 
Komewhut  confused  and  fell  back  on  our  line.  General  Smith  ordered 
thera  to  move  forward,  which  order  was  obeyed.  We  continued  to 
advance  but  a  short  liii-tance,  whtn  tliey  a  second  time  ffll  back  on 
our  lice  and  were  again  urged  forwtird  by  General  Smith.  Instead 
of  movi!ig  direct  to  the  front,  they  obli'|!ied  to  the  left  and  uncovered 
the  two  right  regiments  of  Gonernl  Smith's  brigade.  In  the  darknee.'. 
General  Smith  did  not  know  this,  and  a  third  time  coming  upon 
troops  at  a  halt  in  his  immediate  front,  presuming  them  to  belong  to 
irencral  Deshler's  command,  he  and  Captain  Thomas  11.  King,  volun- 
teer aid,  rode  to  the  front  to  ascertain  the  delay.  On  riding  up  to 
the  line  (which  proved  to  be  the  enemy^  and  asking  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  these  troops,  he  was  discovered  to  be  a  Confederate  oiTicer, 
■nd  he  and  Captsfin  King  were  both  .killed.  I  at  the  fame  time  wan 
in  front  of  ray  regiraents.  accompanied  by  Captain  Ponolson,  acting 
sBsistant  sdjutant  general  to  General  Smith,  to  know  the  cause  of  tic 
rfelay  of  what  I  supposed  to  be  a  portion  of  General  Deshler's  cora- 
laand.  Riding  up  to  a  soldier,  1  asked  bin  to  what  command  ho 
belonged.  Discovering  that  I  was  a  Confederate  officer,  he  fired  at 
me,  missing  me,  but  killing  Captain  Donclson.  who  was  by  my  side. 
1  immediately  ordered  some  files  from  the  twelfth  Tecncssce  rcgiirent 
to  shoot  him,  which  they  di  I,  killing  hira  instantly.  The  line  in 
f-ont.  seriticr  their  situation,  cried  out,  "  Don't  shoot ;  we  surrender." 
J  th"  n  r<^'if  forward,  and  found  thera  in  the  act  of  grounding  their 
ariTis.  I';.-oovering  a  stand  of  colors  in  my  front,  I  asked, '•  Who 
bag  those  colors  ?"  The  reply  was,  "  The  color-bearer."  I  then 
►aid,  "Sir.  to  what  ccmmand  do  you  belong  ?"  lie  replied,  "  To  the 
Mventy-seventh  Tennpylvania  regiment."  I  then  took  from  him  the 
standtif  colors  and  handed  them  to  Captain  Carthell,  forty-seventh 
.'iment,  and  otdcred  him  to  turn  them,  with  the  prisoners 
<  'it  three  hundred  in  number,  over  to  General  Cheatham. 

i .  ■;  .  i ..  ;i  that  1  have  been  thus  explicit  in  detailing  the  facts 
nnnected  with  the  capture  of  the  stand  of  colors,  they  were  claimed 
to  have  been  cspturod  by  General  Decider's  command. 

Being  informed  that  General  Srriith  had  been  killed,  I  assumed  the 
f  mmand  of  the  brigade,  the  command  of  my  regiment  devolving 
upon  Lieutenant  C(donel  R.  W.  I'it'.raan 

After  this  there  was  no  more  filing  of  consequence.  Orders  were 
received  from  M:ijor  General  Cheatham  to  bivouac  in  line  of  battle 
for  the  reni-iinder  of  the  night. 

On  the  2<ilh  my  brigade  was  not  actively  en;-aged.  bring  held  M  > 
reserve.  Wo  were,  however,  eubjectcd  to  a  heavy  aitillery  fire,  kill- 
ing and  wounding  several  men.  Lute  in  the  evening  we  were  ordered 
to  the  extreme  right,  where*  wc  remained   until  the  morning  of  the 


186 

Jldt  September.  I  then  ordered  the  battalion  of  sharpshooters,  under 
cominan'l  of  Mtjors  (jreen  and  Pearl,  to  deploy  (bo  as  to  cover  th'> 
front  of  my  bri^nde)  and  move  as  far  as  the  top  of  Missionary  ridge, 
or  discover  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy  In  a  short  time,  they 
reported  the  etniny  in  the  valley  around  Chattanooga. 

At  three  o'chick,  V  M  ,  we  were  ordered  to  the  e.xtretne  right  of 
the  line,  and  bivoua<kcd  for  the  nijjht  near  Byrd's  mill. 

On  the  morning  of  the  "22nd  of  September  we  moved,  on  the  Shal- 
lon  ford  roa<l,  iu  the  ilircction  of  Chatt.-vuooga.  When  we  arriveil  at 
the  foot  of  Missionary  ridge,  we  formed  line  of  battle  on  the  left  of 
General  Maney's  brigade  and  advanced  to  the  top  of  the  ridge,  meet- 
ing with  but  little  resistsnce,  thoagh  »he  enemy  were  strongly  posted. 

Accouipanving  this  will  be  found  the  reports  of  the  several  regi- 
mental co(Dm:inders,  M:ijor  William  Green,  commanding  battalion 
of  sharp-hooters,  anil  Lieutenant  A  T.  Watson,  commamling  Scott's 
battery,  of  the  action  taken  by  their  respective  commands,  to  which 
1  inviie  your  attention.  A  list  of  the  casualties  of  the  brigade  has 
already  been  forwarded  to  headquarters. 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  alluding  to  the  very  efficient  ser- 
yice  rendered  me  by  Captain  J.  W.  Harris,  inspector  general  on 
General  Smith's  staff,  in  carrying  and  executing  all  orders  in  the  most 
prompt  manner  possible.  Also,  Captain  Emmett  Cockrill,  volunteer 
aid  to  General  Smith,  deserves  especial  notice  for  the  manner  in  which 
he  dincharged  every  duty  assigned  him.  Thanks  are  due  Major  King, 
brigade  commissary,  for  keeping  the  troops  so  well  provided  with 
rations  during  the  campaign  from  Lafayette,  Georgia,  to  this  place. 
Also,  to  Msjiir  Ceecher,  brigade  quartermaster,  for  the  efficient  man- 
ner in  which  our  wounded  were  carried  from  the  field.  Thanks  are 
also  due  Captain  Henry  K.  Beatty,  brigade  ordnance  officer,  for  the 
prompt  and  efficient  manner  in  which  the  command  was  kept  con- 
stantly supplied  with  ammunition.  Also,  special  credit  is  due  Lien- 
tenant  J.  W.  Cochran,  brigade  provost  marshal,  for  the  promptnes* 
and  efficiency  displayed  in  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office. 

Especial  attention  is  called  to  Colonel  Rice's  report  in  reference  to 
the  gatlant  conduct  of  E.  IL  Clayton,  courier  to  General  Smith. 
1  am,  Major,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  J.  VAUGHAN.  Jr., 

Colonel  communding. 


REPORT    OF    COLONEL    C.  A.    SUGG,  COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

IIfadquarters  Gregg's  Brigade,  ) 
Top  of  Mnsum  Ridge,  Sept.  26,  1863.       ) 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part  taken 
bj  Gregg's  brigade  in  the  actions  of  Friday,  Saturday  and  Sundav, 
(18th,  1 0th  and  3  'th  instants,)  while  under  my  command  : 

Shortly  afterfive  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  (19th.)  the 
brigade  having  then  been  hotly  engaged  for  several  hours,  I  was  noti- 
fied 'hat  General  Gregg  had  been  disiibled  by  a  severe  wound  in  the 
neck,  and  had  been  borne  from  the  field,  and  that  the  command  in 
consequence  devolved  upon  me.  I  accordingly  reported  to  General 
Johnson  for  orders.  The  brigade  having  fallen  back,  defensiv  posi- 
tions were  made  for  the  night  by  posting  pickets  in  advance  and  con- 
structing breastworks  of  logs. 

At  seven  o'clock,  the  following  morning,  (Sunday,  2()th.)  I  was 
ordered  to  take  position  in  rear  of  McNair's  and  Johnson's  brigadei*. 
iji  reserve.  "  About  eleven,  A.  M.,  the  division  being  ordered  forward. 
■we  advanced  some  eight  hundred  yards,  under  heavy  fire,  when  the 
front  line  first  wavered,  then  halted,  in  considerable  cjnfusion.  It 
soon  rallied,  but,  after  advancing  about  two  hundred  yards  farther, 
halted  a  second  time,  in  the  face  of  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy, 
strongly  posted  behind  breastworks  of  rails  and  fallen  timber.  My 
command  suffering  greatly  in  its  position  in  rear,  I  now  proposed  to 
General  McNair  to  permit  me  to  pass  to  the  front.  He  consented, 
and  my  command  was  ordered  forward  and  succeeded  in  dislodging 
the  enemy  from  his  position,  though  not  without  heavy  loss.  Major 
C.  W.  Robertson,  commanding  fiftieth  Tennessee,  (Lieutenant  Colonel 
Beaumont  having  been  killrd  the  day  before,)  ^s  here  severely 
wounded  in  the  groin,  while  gallantly  leading  his  regiment.  Up  to 
this  point  all  the  fighting  had  taken  place  in  thick  cover.  Steadily 
advancing,  the  brigade  now  emerged  from  the  timber  into  a  cleared 
field  of  considerable  extent,  gradually  sloping  down  from  the  further 
edge,  where  the  enemy  had  posted  a  battery  of  eight  guns.  This 
battery  I  was  ordered  to  flank,  leaving  it  on  my  right.  Across  the 
op»n  field  the  brigade  charged  and,  supported  on  the  right  fiank.  cap- 
tured the  guns.  Four  of  these  pieces,  rifled  guns  of  the  Wa)d  pattern 
and  three-inch  calibre,  belcnging  to  the  first  Mispouri  (Federal)  bat- 
tery, are  now  appropriately  in  possession  of  the  first  Missouri  (Bled- 
soe's) battery,  belonging  to  this  brigade.  A  thickly  woodid  ridge  in  rear 
of  the  captured  battery,  and  commanding  the  position,  was  the  next 
point  of  attack.  Ordered  by  General  Johnson,  in  person,  to  take  this 
position,  the  brigade  advanced  to  the  assault,  again  witbont  support 
on  the  right.  The  ridge  was  carried,  and  my  battery,  from  tbe  naturt 
of  the  ground,  being  unable  to  keep  up,  the  brigade  was  baited  upon 
it>  crest  and  disposed  in  such  form  as  to  sweep  with  its  fire  the  slope* 
tod  hollows   on  both   sides   of  tbe   ridge  and  hold  tbe  position  until 


183 

trie  artillci  J  coulJ  come  to  9ur  Bupport.  So  soon  as  tlic  guns  arrived, 
thev  were  placed  in  poaitiou  to  open  firo  upon  ;tho  enciuv's  battery  of 
Ct'f  pieces,  covering  the  retreat  of  an  nuimunition  train.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  enemy's  cannoneers  abaniioneil  their  guns  ;  the  teamsters 
were  seen  cutting  loose  tlie  horces  from  their  traces,  and  the  viholo 
touk  to  flight,  leaving  both  battery  and  train  in  our  possession.  Later 
iu  ths  day,  the  contents  of  the  captured  wagons  served  to  replenish 
tae  exhausted  boxes  of  the  brigade.  Finding  the  position  commanded 
ly  still  another  ri<ige  in  front,  but  bearing  to  the  right,  the  brigade 
was  ordered  forward,  the  position  in  front  taken,  and  my  battery 
cf  four  guns  posted  so  as  to  secure  its  possession,  while  skirmishers 
were  thrown  out  to  ascertain  the  position  and  force  of  the  en.iuy. 
He  Was  found  to  be  iu  heavy  force  on  the  same  ridge  on  uiy  right. 
Adjusting  my  line  accordingly,  the  brigade  again  moved  forward, 
charging  the  enemy  in  gallant  style,  under  a  heavy  fire.  Here  hiou- 
tenant  Colonel  J.  13.  Tillman,  commanding  fourth  Tennessee,  was 
woun-led  in  the  shoulder,  while  nobl}'  leading  his  men.  The  enemy  was 
driven  back,  but  rallied  and  returned  to  the  attack  in  greater  force, 
contesting  the  ground  with  unusual  obstinacy.  For  the  want  of  artil- 
Itry  support,  the  right  wing  of  the  brigade  fell  back  beyond  the  bat- 
tery, left  in  the  positio!\  already  described,  but  was  enabled  to  refirm 
under  cover  of  the  steady  fire  and  unbroken  front  maint  iined  by  the 
third  and  fiftieth  Tennessee,  (Colonel  C.  H.  Walker.)  and  seventh 
Texis,  (Major  R.  M.  Vanzandt,)  by  whom  the  guns  were  saved  liom 
capture,  and  to  whom  fiie  right  wing  was  indebted  for  an  opportunity 
to  recover  from  the  terhporary  confusion  into  which  it  had  bien  thrown. 
This  being  quickly  elTected,  and,  perceiving  the  impos-sibility  of  hold- 
ing the  position,  if  captured,  without  the  aid  of  artillery,  I  ordered 
two  guns  to  bo  moved  to  my  right,  and  believing  that  the  teams  would 
be  di-.»troyed  if  the  horses  were  attacked,  1  ordered  them  to  be  moved 
up  the  hill  b}"  hand.  The  brigade  was  again  ordered  to  charge,  the 
enemy  was  driven*  from  the  ridge  and  into  the  hollow  beyond,  but 
the  guns  pushed  forward  and  opened  upon  him  with  suoh  telling  cfToct 
that  he  m  ido  no  further  effort  to  recover  his  lost  ground.  It  wa«  now 
Cvc  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  brigade  having  advanced,  since  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  fully  three  miles,  describing,  in  its  onward  and 
upward  course,  through  timber  and  clearing,  over  hilltops  and  ridges, 
a  line  approaching  in  shape  very  nearly  the  fourth  of  a  circle.  Find- 
ing my  ammunition  exhausted,  a  supjdy  was  ordered  and  obt:;iiied 
from  the  train  previously  captured  from  the  enemy.  Trigg's  brigade 
arriving  on  the  ground  .at  this  juncture,  I  thankfully  accepted  the  pro- 
position of  the  commanding  oflicer  to  form  line  in  my  front,  and  ordered 
the  brigade  to  fall  bick  beyond  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  rest  for  the 
night ;  and,  no  interruption  being  apprehended  from  the  beaten  enemy, 
the  brigade  slept  on  the  ground  which  it  had  so  bravely  won. 

On  the  following  day,  more  than  one  hundred  of  the  enemy's  dead 
were  counted  on  the  hillside  and  in  the  hollow  immediately  in  front  of 
the  brigade.  Nor  was  the  series  of  brilliant  successes,  thu^  briefly 
described,  won  without  heavy  loss  on  our  own  part,  though  one  greatly 
inferior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  and  inferior,  too,  to  the  loss  of  the 


189 

brigade  on  the  previous  Jay  (Saturday).  Where  all.  both  officers  an  1 
men  did  so  well,  it  is  difiiouk,  as  it  would  be  unfair,  to  discriiui- 
nate  further  than  has  been  already  dv;ne  in  this  report.  At  the  Baui© 
time.  I  should  be  doing  less  than  justice  if  1  were  to  omit  to  make 
special  mention  of  the  very  efficient  and  important  service  rendered, 
throughout  the  day  and  in  every  stage  of  the  conflict,  by  Eledeoe's 
battery.  Lieutenant  R.  L.  Wood  commanding. 

A  statement  of  the   number  of  men  eiigaged,  of  the  casualties  sus- 
tained, and  of  the  captures  made  by  the  brigade,  so  fiir  as  an  estimate 
of  them  can  now  be  obtained,  will  be  found  subjoined. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  A.  SUGG, 
Colonel  commandivg  Brigade. 


AGGREGATE  present  in  Gregg's  Brigade,  according  to  Fit  Id  Return 
of  September  19,  18G3, 

Command.  Aggregate  present.     i 

Forty-firsl  Tennessee  regiment,  -  Sio 

Fiftieth               "               "  -  104 

Seventh  Texas                  "  -  177 

Third  Tennessee               "  -  274 

Tenth        "                     "  -  I9<> 

Thirtieth    "                      "  -  I'^o 

First  TcnneBBce  battalion,  -  82 

Total  infantry,  -  -  1,337 

Battery,  -  -  -  64 

Brigade  staff,        ...  4 

1,435 

The  foregoing  represents  the  number  of  officers  and  men  taken  into 
•ction  on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  1 9th.  No  field  return  was  called 
for  or  made  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  2Mth. 


AGGREGATE  lor.;  m  Offirtrs  and  Mm  Kilkd,  Woundid  and  Mir.ri:,^ 
in  Grtgg't  Bri^adf,  in  the  actions  of  Septrmficr  \8lh,  \9th  and  iOth 

Officers,  non-comraissioned  officers  and  privates  killed,  one  huniiitjl 
»nd  seven;  wounded,  four  hundred  and  seventy-five;  missing,  «Tenty, 
total,  six  hundred  tad  fil|ty-two. 


190 


LIST  OF  CAPTURES  mad.-  by  Gregg's  Brigtde  in  the  actions  of  Sep. 
tembcr  ISM,  I9M  and  2ii/A. 


Capturea. 
I'rinoners, 
Hniull  arms, 
Colors, 
Artillery, 
WiigonB, 
Ambulances, 


Amount. 
No  estimate. 
No  estimate. 
None 

Thirteen  piecea. 
Five. 
One. 


A  number  of  prieoners  were  taken  by  the  brigade  on  each  day  and 
lent  to  the  rear,  but  it  is  impossible  to  furnish  an  C8tira!»to  which 
would  be  even  an  approximation  to  the  real  number,  therefore  none 
is  attempted.  Large  quantities  of  arms  were  gathered  on  tho  ground 
over  which  the  brig»de  pas.odTl  and  piled  for  removal,  but,  before  they 
could  be  counted,  the  briga  le  was  ordered  to  change  positron,  being 
transferred  from  General  .Iohn.«on"8  to  General  W.ilker's  divisum. 
The  pieces  of  artillery,  (thirti.'en  in  number.)  in  regard  to  the  capture 
of  which  it  is  understood  that  rival  claims  have  been  advanced,  wore 
not  only  captured  by  this  brigade,  hut  duly  taken  possession  of  at  the 
titne  by  a  detail  made  for  the  purpose.  und»r  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Fletcher  Beaumont,  adjutant  of  the  fiftieth  Tennessee  regiment. 


STATEMENT  OF  ADJUTANT  BEAUMONT  IN  REGARD  TO 
THE  UAl'TURE  OF  i^NE  I'lEGES  UF  ARTILLERV  FROM 
THE  ENEMY  UN  BATTLE-FIELD  OF  CHICKAilAUaA. 

In  the  Field,  October  9,  1863. 
Colonel  FuGG  : 

Sir  :  Ilnving  been  requested  to  furnish  a  written  statement  of  the 
facts  rcgaidiiig  the  capture  from  the  enemy  on  the  battle-6cid  of 
Chu'kamuuga.  September  iO,  1^63,  by  General  Gregg's  brigade  of 
nine  pieces  (f  artillery,  which  I  am  enabled  to  do  by  reiifon  of  having 
been  yi'ur  i'id-de-c»mp  on  that  day,  and,  as  such,  bavii  g  sent  the 
pieces  to  the  re;ir  fi.r  safety  in  the  event  of  an  attempt  to  letiike 
them,  I  be;.'  leave  to  submit  the  following,  which  will  be  endorsed  bj 
ineuib'TS  of  the  forty-fir!<t  Tennessee  regiment  of  this  brigade,  who 
were  wiinei-ses  to  the  statement  herein  set  forth  : 

I'reparaiKiy  to  iulvancirig  upon  the  enemy,  our  division,  consisting 
of  tienerals  John.-on  s,  McNair's,  and  Gregg's  brigades,  the  whoio 
comtiiHiided  by  Brigiiilier  bencral  Johnson,  was  foimed  by  plaring 
Johnson's  brigade  on  the  left,  McNair's  on  the  right,  with  two  regi- 
miiits  and  a  biiiialioii,  fiom  our  brigxtk,  on  the  extreme  left — the 
reii  aiiider  ( f  the  hitter  fvillowiiig  as  a  support  about  one  bundieil 
yaiitp  in  rear  of  the  fr')nt  line.  In  thisordttr  the  division  nioveil  off, 
11  'Virggonc  some  diftance,  McNair's  brigade,  immedi at tjy  in  our  front, 
haite  1,  the  enemx  mainiaining  a  brisk  fire  on  the  whole  linp,  when,  bj 
consent  of  its  comniander,  our  brigaiie  paB.^ed  over  it  and  gained  tfio 
fr<'iil  line.  Soon  after  «e  enierged  into  an  open  field,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  whi^-h,  to  our  right  and  on  an  eminence  commanding  the  field, 
was  pofied  the  enemy's  artillery.  Seeing  a  rich  prize  wiihin  its  gritnp, 
vur  I  iigade  marched  loiwaid  until  it  had  gamed  the  fi^tiik  ;  thea 
■wbeclii'g  to  the  right,  went  up  anil  poB^esse(l  it,  (-everal  of  the 
piicex  h-t^ing  bet'n  silcnred  and  abandoned  before  the  brigade  had 
coniineiice't  to  »hiel.  On  reaching  the  guns  we  bad  so  nobly  won, 
as  ji>ur  aid.  1  {.roceeded  to  take  possession  and  have  them  removtj 
to  tie  rear  for  safety  againHt  recapture.  For  this  purpose  I  made  a 
tictail  of  the  men  iiearest  to  me,  and,  when  I  coohl  fand  them,  such 
iroiiiidt'd  88  weie  able  to  ride  horseback,  and  Federal  prisoners,  with 
ft  gunrd.  Kveiy  gun  and  us  accurap 'nim''nt8  which  fell  into  our 
kaii'ls  Here  Kave<l  I  »ould  also  mention  that  instead  of  eight  (H) 
guns,  as  you  estimate  in  your  offi'  lal  rcpi  rt,  there  were  nine  (9)  to 
my  knowledge,  hating  seen  that  number  myself  after  the  fighting  had 
subsided  in  the  evi  iiing  of  tbat  day.  Too  eager  to  get  them  safelj 
to  the  rear,  I  did  not  i-top  to  ascertain  the  exuct  number,  supposing 
that  1  would  have  an  Ofiportunity  to  settle  that  point  afterwards,  as 
I  directed  them  to  be  taken  to  the  hill  our  brigade  was  posted  on 
before  the  sdvanCe  began. 

1  am,  eir,  respectfallj,  yours, 

FLETCHER  BEAUMONT, 
AdjutaiU  FiftUth  Tenna$ee  regiment. 


192 


We  fully  cor.cur  in  the  above  statement. 

W.  G.  Vancleare,  corapanj  II,  fortj-fii-et  Tennessee   legiracr.t. 

C   S.  Hnnghton, 

B.   W.  Smith,  fourth  Bcrgoant,  " 

A.  P.  N.  Bells,  compsnj  II,  " 

A.  J.  Park, 

Levi  Osburn,  '•  "  " 

Willv  Ot<b»rn, 

II.  M.  Fuwler, 


The  above  names  are  raowbcrs  of  company  II,  forty-first  Tcnne?- 
(t-e  regiment,  and  authorised  me  to  eign  their  names. 

W.  M.  COOPER, 
First  Litutenant  Co.   II,   ilst  TVn.iesste  rfgrntnt. 


REPORT   OF    COLONEL  D.  COLEMAN,  COMMANDING 
BlUii  A\)E. 

IlF.AnQi\RTr.!i.<  MiXviu's  BRiGAnr.,      ) 
Camp  7icar  Ringgold,  Gtor^in,  Sept.  Zi,  I8G3.  \ 

I     Captain  Ci.wK.MORE,  A.  A.  A.  Gcnnd :  ' 

\         Captain:   In  oberlienco  to   Bri^^dior   Gcr.pra!   Johnson's  onlcr  of 

[     yestenlay,  I  li.ivo  the  honor  to  reitort  the  pirt  taken  by  this  brigade 

i     in  tlic  Inte  battles: 

Sliortlj  bi'fore  daylight  on  the  18th  instant,  this  bri/jfule,  (Brigmlier 
Oonernl  E.  McNair,)  in  company  wi:h  that  of  Brigadier  General  B. 

,      11.  Johnson,  who  coniinindod  t)ie  wliolo  force,  loft  Catoosa  station,  on 

'  the  ChickaniiU2;a  rirer,  and  niDrched,  by  way  of  Ringgold,  by  the 
Lafayette  road  to  the  intersection  of  the  Grnj'svillo  and  Reed's  bridge 
roads.  Here,  cannonading  and  sharp  skirniishmg  being  heard  on  the 
loft,  line  of  battle  was  fornisd,  with  Johnson's  brigade  on  the  right, 
and  the  force  swept  steidily  in  this  order,  with  skirmishers  in  froot, 
across  the  country  to  the  liift,  the  enemy  giving  away  with  scarcely 

;  any  resistance,  to  the  Reed's  bridge  roaJ,  near  the  bridge.  Thence 
marched,  hearing  heavy  musketry  firing  in  front,  to  within  one  and  a 
half  Liilea  of  Lee's    mill,  en    the  Chattanooga  and   Lee's   mill   road, 

,     where  it  enc.-.riped  in  liry;  for  the  niglit  some  time  after  dark. 

On  the  l.'lth,  just  about  eight,  A.  M  .  the  battle  having  began  dxi 
the  right,  the  brigade  was  pla-ed  in  position  in  rear  of  Gregg's  brig» 
ade,  with  the  artillery,  Captain  Culpcper'e  three  pieces,  and  the  thirty- 
ninth  North  Carolina  regiment,  Colonel  Coleman,  and  twenty-fifth 
Arkansas,  Lieutenant  C>.donel  Ilupstclder.  Colonel  Coleman,  com- 
manding both  regimsnts,  being  ordired  to  support  General  Gregg, 
moved  rapi  ily  forward  and,  getting  near  (jreg::".s  brigade,  (then  acder 
a  terrific  fire,)  charg;il  impetuoinly,  passing  over  the  left  of  Gregg's 
brigade,  with  loud  cheers,  anJ  drove  the  enemy  in  rapid  flight  through 
the  thick  woodn,  across  the  Chattanooga  road,  past  the  small  house, 

'  a  hundrc'l  yardi  on  and  in  to  the  corn-fields  beyond,  making  a  dis- 
tance  altogether   of   about  threc-qnartcrs   of  a   mile.      In   this    hist 

'  advance  Lieutenant  Colonel  KupFteJder  fell,  woun  l"d  with  five  balls. 
Though  the  enemy,  to  whom  we  had  been  opposed  in  front,  were  ia 

'  flight,  broken  and  in  confusion,  having  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in  killed, 
the  two  rf-girn'>tit':  fin  li'ig  their  tired  and  weak''n?d  line  exposed  to  a 

!     fatal  flanking  firr-.  p-|,f.  ,^lly  on   the  left,  unsupported  on   account  of 

•■'«'•  rapidity  of  tlii;r  aifance,  with  an  enemy's   battery   ne^r   on  I'ae 

:  and  a  strong  enemy's  reinforcement  approaching,  ^d  onr  amma> 

m  nearly  exbaustfd,  the  impractiliability  of  longCT  holding  thi* 

inced  and  exposed  position  was  immediately  manifest  and  the  force 

ordofed  back  to  the  woods.      Here  they  were  reformed  and,  a  freph 

■  »sed  to  relievo  them,  were  marched  back  to  nearly  their 

n  to  await  anmanilion,  where  they  were  joined  by  tit 


104 

rest  of  tlie  brigade,  wliich  Snally  moved  forward  to  tbe  position  in  line 
Tklicre  it  WHS  eiio:nupcd  for  the  night,  between  Johnson's  brigade,  ou 
the  ripht,  nud  Hindrnan's  divieion,  on  the  left. 

The  6r?t,  second  and  fourth  Aik.msas  battalions,  (consolidated,) 
Major  Ross,  all  under  the  iniincdiate  connnand  of  "General  McNair, 
were  ordered  forward  soon  after  the  advance  of  the  thirty-ninth 
North  Carolina  and  twenty-fifth  Arkansas,  and  charged  on  the  right 
of  the  course  taken  by  the  latter  regiments  and  drove  the  enemy,  in 
successive' charges,  beyond  the  Chattanooga  road.  Here,  on  the 
withdrawal  of  the  tliirty-r intli  nnd  twenty-fifih,  being  exposed  to  a 
heavy  flank  fire  on  the  left,  besides  that  in  front,  and  the  ammunition 
begining  to  fail,  they  rejoined  the  other  two  regiments. 

The  artillery.  Captain  Culpeper  commanding,  supported  tbe  advance 
of  tbe  brigade  so  long  as  it  was  safe  to  fire,  and  then,  the  undergrowth 
being  too  thick  to  advance,  remained  in  their  position  the  remainder 
of  the  day. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Sl'th,  the  brigade  was  placed  in  line  between 
Stewart's  division,  on  the  right,  and  Hindrnan's,  on  tbe  left,  with  a 
slight  barricade  of  briMiches  and  suiull  dead  wood  in  front.  Here, 
about  half  p:ist  nine,  A  M  ,  the  line  rejiulsed  an  ;tdvance  of  the  enemy. 
In  a  few  i;  inutes  after,  the  brigade,  advancing  with  the  rest  of  the  line, 
drove  the  em  my  steadily  and  rapidly  back,  passing  over  two  succes- 
sive lines  of  temporary  breastworks,  a  distance  of  about  three-quarterB 
of  a  milo,  reaching  the  corner  of  the  field,  at  the  opposite  end  of  which 
were  two  batteries  of  the  enemy's  on  a  hill  commanding  the  whole 
advance.  General  McNair  and  Ccdonel  Hargcr,  first  Arkansas  rifles, 
had  just  been  disabled  by  wounds,  that  of  tue  latter  officer  mortal. 
The  brigride,  already  in  advance  of  the  line,  charged  furiously  upoa 
the  batteries  diagonally  on  tbe  right  and  captur:d  them,  tiiking  ten 
pieces,  eight  of  which  were  immediately  sent  with  their  remaining 
horses  to  our  rear,  and  the  remaining  twc,  then  in  the  wood,  were 
carried  to  the  rear  afterwards,  the  ground  never  having  been  reoccu- 
pieil  by  the  enemy. 

The  brigade  was  now  considerably  in  advance  of  the  line,  though 
this  was  rapidly  approaching;  our  left  was  still  more  exposed  by  the 
break  made  by  our  diagonal  charge;  the  enemy  were  firing  from  the 
woods  in  front,  while  within  two  butulrcd  yards  farther  in  the  woods 
a  l*rge  body  of  the  enemy  was  seen  diawn  up  in  good  order.  Our 
forces  were  reduced  by  our  rapid  advance  and  the  ammunition  nearly 
exh.-iustcd.  It  was  necessary  at  once  to  abandon  our  position.  Tbe 
biigade  retired  back  to  the  woods,  procured  ammunition  and  took  posi- 
tion in  Hue  on  the  left  of  Robinson's  brigade.  Here,  on  receiving  aa 
order  from  Brigadier  General  Johnson,  the  brigade,  under  Colonel 
Coleman,  Upon  whom  the  command  had  devolved,  advanced  forward 
and  to  the  lefL  about  half  a  mile,  to  the  support  of  Johnson's  brigade, 
which  was  supporting  Robinson's  battery,  which  was  stationed  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill  to  the  right  of  the  Lookout  Valley  road,  at  which  point 
the  force  there  were  resisting  with  difficulty  the  determined  advance  • 
of  the  enemy  in  heavy  force.  In  a  few  minutes  General  Johnson 
ordered  our  advance,  when,  passing  the  line  immediately  supporting  the 


195 

battery,  which  line  also  advanced,  we  charged  over  the  hill  upon  the 
enemy  and  after  a  protracted  and  obstinate  resistance,  a  brigade  on 
our  right  and  Manigauit's  brigade  on  the  ridge  to  our  left  advancing 
on  parallel  lines  to  us.  the  enemy  were  ■completely  driven  from  the 
position.  In  this  conflict  we  suffered  much  from  a  flanking  fire,  arising 
from  tardy  support  on  our  left. 

The  artillery.  Captain  Culpeper,  having  assisted  in  repulsing  the 
encuiy  at  half-past  nine,  A.  M.,  was  placed  in  position  by  General 
Law,  with  his  battery,  and  remained  there  during  the  day.  I  take 
greit  pleasure  ami  pride  in  saying  that  the  whole  brigade  behaved 
most  nobly  during  all  the  fighting  of  both  days,  being  uniformly  in 
3'. Vance  of  all  others  in  every  onset.  Its  losses  and  its  trophies  bear 
ample  testimony  to  its  good  conduct.  In  another  report  I  propose  to 
pai  licularize  individual  instances. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant. 

D.  COLEMAN. 
Colonel  commanding  Brigade. 


TABULAR  STATEMENTS  of  total  oggregntrs  of  McNnir's  Brigade 
ergagedat  Vhukamavga,  Siptemhcr  \iith,  \Miar,d2Mh,  1863. 

Commend.  Total.         Aggregate.         No.  of  rounds  fired, 

fun  and  Staff,  2 

1st  Aikansas,  2.74  273  70 

4th  Arkansiw,  3h,5  415  70 

2n\  Arkansas,  125  139  70 

39 tb  Nurth  Carolina,        2.i2  247  80 

25ih  Arkansas,  III  133  80 

Total  infjntry,  l.MT  1,209  About  75 

Cnlp.-per'9  bait/ry.  I  ^^  '     g^  301  shots. 

h.  C  artillery,     J 

One  caisson  exploded,  two  horses  killed  and  Bix  wounded  ;  one  sett 
wheel  harness  damaged. 

D.  COLEMAN. 
Colonel  commanding  McSa%r''s  Brigade. 

IICNRT  WaLPIIOP, 

A.  A.  A.   General. 


f96 


B. 


TABULAR  STATEMENT  of  Casuallks   in   McNair's  Brigade    al 
Chickamauga,  on  ISM,  19/A  end  Zdthof  SepUmier,  18G3. 


Killed. 

AVoV.VDBD. 

MiSKIKG. 

Command. 

o 

1 

TOT.VL. 

Kifld  and  .Staff, ' ' 

1 

S9 
25 
15 
4C 
'26 
6 

1 

54   . 
81 
27 
40 
21 
0 

., 

14           3 
14           4 

6  1 
10           4 

7  4 

16 

29 
3 
3 
» 

11)6 

1l)» 

Second  Arkaniiiis 

Tliirty-niiith   Korlh  Carolina,.... 
Tvrcntv-fiftli  Arkansas, 

62 
103 

01 

14 

1      61    ;    IC 

167     1  l(i3 

64     1       441 

D.  COLEMAN, 

Colonel  commanding  McNairs  Brigade. 
Henrv  Waldrop, 

A.  A.  A.   General. 


C. 


A  STATEMENT  of  captures  made  by  3IrNairs  Brigade  al  CUrka- 
tnauga,  on  the  I8th,  I9ih  and  ZHth  of  September,  1SC3. 

Ten  piece!?  of  artillery. 

Several  caissonB,  left  on  the  field  and  brought  off  afterwards. 

Six  first  class  ordnance  wagons. 

.Six  wagon  loads  of  small  ammunition. 

Brought  off  the  field  eight  hundred  fine  rifles. 

Piled  up,  for  ordnance  wagons,  two  thousand  rifles. 

Brought  off  the  field  twentj-si.x  artillery  horses. 

Two  stand  of  colors — one  eighth  Kansas,  the  other  not  remembered. 

One  taken  from  private  Harry  Barger,  company  I,  twenty-fifth 
Arkansas,  by  force,  after  capturing  it  himself,  by  an  oflScer  ranking 
tirst  lieutenant  of  Maney's  brigade. 

D.  COLEMAN, 
Colonel  commandi?ig  3IcNair^s  Brigade. 

IIenrt  Waldrop, 

A.  A.  A.   General. 


REPORT  OF  COLONEL  JOHN   S.  FULTON,  COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

Headquarters  Johnson's  Brigadk,  September  30,  18C3. 

Captain  \V.  T.  Bukemorf., 

Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

I  have  to  report  the  action  taken  with  the  enemy  bj  the  forty- 
fourth,  twenty-fifth,  twenty-third  and  eeventeenth  Tennessee  regiments, 
composing  this  brigade,  and  company  E,  of  the  ninth  Georgia  bat- 
talion of  artillery,  a  battery  of  two  howitzers  and  two  small  rifle 
pieces,  commanded  by  First  Lieutenant  W.  S.  Everett,  in  an  affair  at 
and  from  Ringgold  to  Chickamauga  creek,  on  the  1 7th  and  18th 
instants,  and  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  on  the  19th  and  20th 
instants.  • 

By  order  from  Brigadier  General  Johnson,  this  brigade  moved  at 
three,  I'.  JL,  on  the  17th  instant,  from  its  encampment,  three  miles 
sooth  of  Ringgold,  on  the  Ringgold  anil  Dalton  road,  *in  the  following 
order:  twenty-fifth,  forty-fourth,  twenty-third  and  seventeenth  Ten- 
nessee regiments.  On  our  approaching  Ringgold,  a  supply  train  on 
its  way  to  Ringgold  had*bccn  reversed  and  was  rapidly  returning. 
At  this  juncture  I  received  an  order  from  General  B.  R.  Johnson  to 
form  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle  at  the  foot  of  Taylor's  ridge,  and 
throw  forward  skirmishers  to  Ifold  Ringgold.  The  twenty-'fth  Ten- 
ncfsce  regiment,  being  in  front,  took  position  on  its  ri^]  llank,  to 
protect  the  wagons,  rapidly  moving  to  the  rear.  The  b'V^ade  was 
foimed  in  line  of  battle  at  the  foot  of  Taylor's  ridge,  the  fcftty-fonrth 
and  twenty-fifth  Tennessee  regiments  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  the 
twenty-third  and  seventeenth  Tennessee  regiments  on  the  lef  .  A  com- 
pany from  each  regiment  was  seat,  in  charge  of  Major  Da>.s,  to  hold 
Ringgold,  with  a  detachment  of  Scott's  cavalry  on  my  flanks.  A  section 
of  the  battery  was  placed  on  my  extreme  right  on  elevated  ground, 
where  I  onlered  it  to  open  upon  the  enemy's  battery,  posted  on  the 
hill  above  and  to  the  northwest  of  Ringgold,  which  had  fired  two  shots 
into  the  town.  After  firing  eight  rounds  I  dislodge"!  the  enem_y,  who 
was  pursued  by  Colonel  Scott's  cavalry,  with  a  section  of  Everett"? 
battery,  six  miles.  He  (Colonel  ?cott)  having  reached  their  encamp- 
ment, a  few  rounds  of  grape  and  canister  were  fired  among  the  enemy's 
cirap  fires,  when  Colonel  Scott,  with  the  section  of  artillery,  retired. 
T:  >■--'-  -  -'I  on  their  8rm«,  in  line  of  battle,  during  the  night. 
],  -i  and  in  havereack#  bv  daylight  on  the  morning 

o: ■.  when  we  took  up  the  line  of  march' to  Leek's  tan- 

yar  1  Af'T  miff  hi  nr  a  short  distance,  the  line  of  march  was  changed. 
The  regim'-ntc  jan:eitairched  and  followed  the  enemy  in  the  direction 
of  Cliattunooga,  and,  having  reached  Kceler's  (over-shot)  mill,  w» 
founl  th^t  th"!  enemy  werl  near  us.  The  brigo-le  was  formed  in  line 
of  bsittle  an  1  skirmishers  thrown  forward,  together  with  the  left  wing 
of  the  forty-fourth  Tonnessee  regiment,  UDder  General  Forrest,  fol- 


19S 

lowed  by  the  right  of  that  regiment,  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colouol  McEwer.,  Jr.  Lieiitcniint  ETerett  fired  a  few  rounda  on  the 
enemy,  under  direction  of  General  Forrest.  The  skirmishers  of  the 
seventeenth  Tenncsfee  regiment  engaged  tiio  cavalry  pickets  of  the 
enemy,  killing  three  men  and  mortally  wounding  one.  The  enemy's 
skirmishers  having  been  driven  back,  the  twenty-fifth,  twenty-t!)ird 
and  seventeenth  regiments  were  moved  forward,  crossing  Pea  vine  creek, 
some  six  hundred  yards  from  our  first  position  into  and  over  a  corn- 
field where  these  regiments  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  The 
enemy  had  taken  Lis  position  in  the  corn-field  opposite,  running  to  a 
high  ridge  near  the  juncture  of  the  Graysville  and  Lnfiyette,  Ring- 
gold and  Chattanooga  roads.  A  section  of  the  first  Missouri  battery, 
Bledsoe's,  having  been  placed  in  position  on  my  left  by  Generals 
Johnson  and  Forrest,  in  rear  of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee,  (the  forty- 
fourth  was  now  brought  to  the  right  of  the  twenty -fifth  Tennessee  regi- 
ment,) the  firing  from  this  battery  drove  the  enemy  from  his  position, 
and,'  after  shelling  the  woods  in  our  front,  I  again  received  an  order 
to  advance  in  line  of  battle.  Mj  skirmishers  were  kept  deployed  at 
a  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  which  distance  they  kept,  passing 
over  the  ridge  (a  strong  position)  and  forward  to  Reed's  bridge,  across 
which  the  enemy  had  moved  and  taken  position  in  the  woods  beyond. 
Before  reaching  the  bridge.  Reed's,  the  seventeenth  Tennessee  was 
detached  and  sent  by  General  Forrest  to  tTie  left  to  attack  a  force  of 
the  Federals  at  their  principal  encampment.  Before  gaining  this  posi- 
tion, however,  the  enemy  fled.  'J'he  skirmishers  of  the  twenty-third 
Tennessee,  whilst  approaching  Reed's  !)ridge,  became  engaged,  and  the 
twenty-third  Tennessee  regiment  voluntarily  pushed  forward  with  a 
yell  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  bridge  before  it  could  be  destroyed. 
Here  the  twenty-third  Tennessee  had  five  men  wounded,  one  of  whom, 
private  A.  Melton,  color-bearer,  when  obliged  to  give  up  hia  colors, 
called  upon  his  successor  to  carry  them  forward  "  ahead  of  every 
thing  else."  Skirmishers  were  immediately  sent  over  the  bridge 
and  deployed,  followed  by  the  forty-fourth,  twenty-fifth  and  twenty- 
third  Tennessee  regiments,  which  filed  to  the  right  some  three  or  four 
hundred  yards,  through  a  corn-field.  The  enemy  now  opened  a  bat- 
tery upon  the  bridge,  one  of  its  shells  ivounding  Lieutenant  Hastings, 
of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee,  which  regiment  was  returning  to  rejoin 
the  brigade  and  crossed  over  the  bridge  under  the  enemy's  fire  of 
artillery.  A  section  of  first  Missouri,  Bledsoe's,  b.ittery,  of  the 
reserve  artillery,  opened  fire  and  drove  the  enemy's  battery  from  its 
position. 

The  brigade  moved  forward  in  line  of  battle,  changing  direction  to 
•  the  right,  and  moved  in  lint^o  Alexander's  bridge,  where  wo  were 
lialted  and  remained  for  the  brigade  on  our  left  (Gregg's)  to  come  up. 

Gregg's  brigade  moved  forward,  followed  by  Johnson's,  which,  after 
marching  some  six  hundred  yards,  the  forty-fourth  Tennessee  was 
detached  to  guard  our  wagon  train,  llaving  marched  some  two  and  a 
half  miles  by  the  tlank,  Gregg's  brigade  t)ecamo  engaged  with  the 
enemy.  We  changed  front  forward  on  left  company,  left  battalion, 
and  moved  up  on  line  with  other  troops  on  our  left,  and  rested  on  our 


109 

■  rras  during  the  night,   one-tliii-'l  of  the  men   being  required  to  bo 

awake,  and  skirmishers  deplojeii  ia  our  frout. 

Saturday,  September  19th.     Eiirlj  this  morning  a  detail  of  intelli- 

•'  lit  men  was   made,   five  from   ench    regiment,   to   reconnoitre   the 

'lemj'a  line.  They  reported  to  nie,  about  ten,  A.  iM.,  the  enemy  one 
■ind  a  quarter  milts  distant  and  in  our  front.  The  forty-fourth  Ten- 
nessee took  its  position  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  ami  tlie  line  of  the 
biigado  couforined  to  that  of  (Jregg's,  on  our  left,  and  llohinson's,  on 
our  right,  whirh  ciiO'  wpassed  the  top  of  a  low  ridge.  The  iiring 
commenced  on  our  right  about  eight,  A.  M,,  and  continued  along  the 
line  until  Cheatham  became  engaged. 

About  one,  P.  M.,  liie  skinniphers  of  the  seventeenth  Tennessee,  as 
well  as  those  of  Gregg's  briga<le,  were  drircn  in.  A  g'Mieral  engage- 
ment was  now  commenced  on  our  left,  the  loftcompiuicsof  the  seven- 
teenth Tennessee  participati.ig  by  firing  obliquely  to  the  left.  At 
this  time  Everett's  battery  was  placed  behind  the  extreme  Icfc  of  the 
seventeenth  Tennessee,  the  fiie  of  which  drove  the  enemy  back  at  this 
{<oint. 

trhortly  after,  the  command  to  move  forward  was  given,  the  left 
regiment  to  touch  to  the  right  until  we  reached  the  road,  when  the 
right  would  move  slowly,  that  tue  left  may  come  np  to  the  road,  thna 
to  change  direction  slightly  to  the  right..  But  this  order  was  not 
fully  carried  out.  We  did  not  advance  exceeding  tcvcn  hundred 
yards,  when  the  enemy  opened  fire  upon  us,  and  we  became  hotlj 
engageil.  Tiic  enemy  hud  [dinted  a  battery,  which  struck  about  the 
centre  of  the  furtylonrih  Tciinessee  regi".ent,  and  which  opened 
upon  our  advancing  lines,  throwing,  in  rapid  succession,  grape  and 
canister,  and  supported  by  infantry,  whose  fire  of  small  arras  was 
heavy,  well  directed  and  disastrous.  The  entire  brigade  now  became 
hotly  engaged,  (during  this  engagement  Majnr  Lowe,  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  Tennessee,  was  woundtd,)  which  lasted  nearly  an  hour,  the 
enemy  making  a  stubborn  resistance,  gradually  re^Hke,  he  having 
advantage  of  both  undergrowth  ami  ground,  but  fi^JP  was  driven 
•across  flic  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road."  The  seventeenth  Ten- 
nessee regimt'nt,  on  ajproaehing  the  road,  was  hiltcd  and  opened  fire 
on  the  en''my  in  its  front,  distant  about  two  bun  Ired  yards,  in  a  wood- 
land ;  the  unilergrowlh  having  been  cut  out,  the  enemy  were  in  full 
TJew.  The  forty-fnurth  Tennessee  was  still  engaging  the  enemy. 
The  twenty-fifth  and  a  portion  of  the  twcniy-third  Tennessee  regi- 
ment crossed  the  road,  the  other  portion  of  the  twenty-third  being 
with  the  seventeenth  Tennessee,  and  g.iined  the  cover  of  the  woods,  and 
moved  to  the  fl-uik  of  the  enemy's  buttery,  still  firing  upon  the  right 
of  our  line,  at  ri^'iit  angles  with  my  present  line,  gaining  a  fence, 
under  A^hich  tlioy  (penei  fire,  delivering  several  volleys,  ceased  firing, 
re-loaded  and  rhargpd  the  ballcry,  driving  the  enemy's  gnnners  from 
their  guns  and  killing  several  horses.  The  caissons  were  roOve<l  oiT 
by  the  enemy,  le*\  ing  their  pieces  on  the  fi<  Id.  The  seventeenth  Ten- 
nessee and  the  other  portion  of  the  twenty-third  Tennessee  had 
crossed  the  roa*!.  having  driven  the  eneniy.  The  Bevcntcenth  Teu- 
neesee  here  lost  one  officer  killed,  two  ofiicon  and  about  twenty  men 


200 

ircunJcd.  In  tlis  cngagonieiit  the  foity-fouilU  Tennessee  suffered 
.heavily,  sustaining  a  lots  in  killed  and  •wounded.  A  portion  of  Rob- 
inson's extreme  left  (Tcx«us)  and  part  of  the  forty-fourth  Tennessee 
hod  been  driven  bnck,  but  niioiu  two-thirds  of  the  foity-fourth  Ten-, 
nessee  crossed  the  road.  Hero  Lieutenant  Colonel  .MclMven.  Jr.,  fire 
cempany  (fficers.  (Captain  Jackson  one  of  the  number,)  and  fifty  men 
wire  wounded  and  six  men  killed;  among  the  latter,  Sergeant  T.  A. 
Johnson,  color-bearer,  t.ne  of  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  I.ieufsnaDt 
Colonel  MeEwen,  Jr.,  however,  leraained  with  his  command,  after  he 
wns  wounded,  until  obliged  to  retire  from  exhaustion.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Tillman,  cf  the  lorty-firf-t  Tennessee,  Gregg's  brigade,  rode 
up  to  me  at  tl.is  time,  stating  that  the  enemy  was  moving  down  the 
road  to  my  left,  and  would  soon  be  in  my  rear  ;  doubting  the  report, 
I  suggested  that  our  Imes  were  connected  on  our  left  and  that  a  tiank 
or  rear  movement  could  not  therefore  bo  made  by  the  enemy.  I, 
however,  found  that  but  two  regitneuts  of  Gregg's  brigade  had  moved 
up  with  my  line,  and  they  had  retired.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tillman 
had  thus  lost  sight  of  Lis  ngiuient,  and,  in  company  with  him  and 
Lieutcniint  Col  ntl  Floyd,  I  started  to  the  road  to  safi-rfy  myself  as  to 
the  correctness  of  this  report ;  I  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when  I 
discovered  a  column  of  the  enemy  moving  by  the  Uai.k  in  direction  of 
the  seventeenth  Tennessee  rigiuient,  which  rapidly*  gained  its  roar. 
I  heard  distinctly  the  commamter's  halt,  front,  and  imn-.cdiatcly  their 
fire  was  pouring  upi  n  our  Ihnik  and  rear.  Here  a  gencrHl  a'ampcde 
ensued,  so  sudden  and  unexpected  was  the  movement.  We  fell  back 
two  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road  and 
reformed.  Li  this  fl:iLk  movement  of  the  enemy  the  seventeenth  Ten- 
nessee regiment  loi-t  eleven  offireis,  including  their  gallant  M^'jor 
Davis,  who  was  wounded,  and  about  sixty  men  taken  prisoners.  The 
brigade  built  temporary  breastworks,  behind  which  it  remained  during 
the  night,  ir.  line  of  battle.  Our  skirmisliers,  under  Major  McCarver, 
were  directeij^fcccupy  thp  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road,  but  tliis 
could  not  l^^^e,  the  lines  on  my  right  and  left  not  conforming 
thereto;  I,  however,  ingtructcJ  them  to  be  posted  within  fifty  yards. 
of  the  road. 

Sunday,  2()th  Septeraler.  This  morning  my  line  connected  on  the 
right  with  MfNair's,  ((Jregg  being  in  tlio  next  line,  in  our  roar,)  and 
General  llindman  on  the  left.  Everett's  battery  look  position  between 
my  left  and  the  right  of  Law's.  Shortly  after  nine,  A.  M  ,  the  bkir- 
mi.shcrs,  under  direction  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ready,  fell  back  to 
the  breastwojks,  bringing  those  of  the  enemy  after  them.  A  well 
directed  fire  from  the  forty  fourth  Tennessee  drove  the  enemy's  skir- 
ir.ishers  back,  leaving  many  of  his  dead  in  our  front.  My  tkirmi.^hers 
were  sent  foVward  and  very  soon  they  became  again  engaged,  the 
enemy  using  his  artillery.  About  ten,  A.  M.,  a  general  advance  was 
ordered.  The  left  of  the  brigailc  had  advanced  but  a  short  distauce 
before  it  became  engagcil  with  the  enemy,  the  battle  having  commenced 
some  three  hours  earlier  on  the  right.  The  seventeeutli  Tennessee 
recroBsed  the  Chattartooga  and  Lafayette  road,  when  it  engaged  the 
enemy.     The  whole  line  crossing  the  fence,  the  engagement  became 


I 


2.>1 

genorsl.  Ilorc  we  pa^scil  a  house  and  gftnlen,  and  through  an  open 
tiold,  (it  was  here  ih'it  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ucidy,  of  twenty-third 
Tennc!<see,  was  wounded,  while  rushing  forward.)  On  entering  the 
house,  cri'is,  «to.,  many  prisoners,  botli  offi  ;er3  and  tncn,  wjro  cip- 
tured,  und  here  sorje  fine  swords  were  t;ikon  ff-oiu  the  enemy.  Among 
the  prisoners  was  the  coloael  of  the  one  hundredth  Illinois  regiment. 
The  enemy's  breastworks,  which  had  been  built  at  intervals  along  his 
line.  ciTored  but  a  poor  assistance  to  the  enemy  to  resist  our  advance, 
•whirh  was  not  only  vigorous  and  spirited,  but  irresistible  ;  wo  found 
he  had  a  second  line  of  breastworks  about  eighty  yards  in  rear  of  the 
first,  made  of  logs  and  rocks,  behind  which  they  scarcely  halted. 
,  Having  driven  the  enemy  from  his  first  position,  we  hiUed  and 
reformed  our  line  in  front  of  a  dense,  low  pine  thicket.'  Pressing 
for^-ard,  we  carried  this  position,  the  dea<l  of  the  enemy  showinji^how 
good  a  protection  he  had  calculated  on.  We  passed  through  a  stubble 
wheat-field  to  a  ravine,  until  we  reached  the  edge  of  a  long  open  field, 
the  upper  side  of  which  being  a  bald  hill,  or  high  ridge,  upon  which 
the  enemy  had  a  heavy  b.^ttery  of  nine  guns,  firing  upon  the  advanc- 
ing line  on  our  right.  Without  delay  the  field  was  entered  and 
charged  across,  and  the  ridge,  or  bald  hill,  was  gained,  the  troops  on 
our  right  hivi:ig  flankeil  and  silenced  the  enemy's  bittery,  which  was 
captured.  Everett's  battery  was  iraiticdiatoly  brought  up,  together 
■with  Dint's,  which  were  opened  upon  the  enemy's  retiealmg  wagon 
train,  moving  on  the  Chattmonga  and  Crawfish  Spring  road.  I  sent 
forward  tkirinishers  to  reconnoitre  the  hollow  bcncat'i,  where  was 
found  the  enemy's  telegraph  running  up  the  Chattanoogi  and  Craw- 
fish Spring  roa<l,  several  hundred  yards  to  rfur  right.  This  telegraph 
Wis  cut  donrn,  and  poveral  prisoners  captured;  among  the  pvisoneia 
a  staff  ofiicer  of  iMsjor  General  Vanclevc,  and  one  of  (Jencral  Rosen-. 

cri---  .with  their  horses   and   eqi.npments.     The  eiToct  of  our 

bi'  MIC,  the  cneinj'  rapidly  reireating.     A  mopnled  oifiner 

wa^    -  .1  to  -the  troops  on  our  Mt,  who   had  not  kept  pace  with 

us,  with  a  liag.  to  show  and  direct  them  to  our  position  ;  they  had 
already  opened  one  of  tlieir  batteries  upon  our  position,  havinp;  Iti/ctn 
Us  f:ir  tfxi  fnem'i;  their  battery  was  playing  on  us  from  the  second  hill 
on  our  left.  Having  received  orders  to  move  to  the  hollow  beneath, 
we  here  cinngod  direction  to  the  right,  which  tbrc-w  the  line  almost 
perpendicular  to  thc^*  former  ;» this  done,  I  marched  forward,  cn- 
tcri-  ■'-■■'"  1  '  Here  we  began  to  see  the  fr-.tits  of  our  rapid  and 
CO''  '.'.      Three   twelve  j  .ud'^t  iriss  Geid  pioccs  and 

t'  •  ..  here  c.iptured,  anliiine  foir-h'^iBO     agons,  one  of 

:ir  males  attiched,  was   i:iunciJi;,tftly  sent  to  the  roar; 

wagon"  wrro  1  id.'n  with  ord.-'ance,  the  others  with  com- 
ind    ijuiirt!  ■  ores.     Some  of  the  wagons  were  c«p- 

uVpt  wa*  ■  on.     I.immcdiately  found  that  roy  left 

•  »ed.  a^i  I    :-'T;f    forward  a  be;ivy  line   of  skirmishers  to 

left  flink   and  front,  and    advanced  the  brigade  to  the 

-■  >-•■'•    '       ?  •'  '  — •  '   -vard  a  party  to  reconnoitre 

ers,  who,  after  an  ah  enco 

and  a  l.alf  miles  distant 


202 

and  ndviincing.  In  the  meantime,  I  had  learned  of  the  enemy  h»v« 
ing  (>kirniishers,  or  that  occasional  shots  were  fired  from  the  hill  on  my 
left,  running  iiltnoint  at  rifjht  angles  with  the  one  on  which  1  was  thea 
resting.  1  ?ent  immed  iitely  a  company  of  skirmishers  to  reconnoitre 
the  hill — a  few  prisoners  were  brought  in.  In  the  corner  of  the  field 
below  my  present  position  was  Villette's  house,  where  the  enemy  hid 
pr.'iciisi'd  many  outrages  ;  the  ladies  were  found  lying  under  the  floor 
of  the  house,  and,  when  they  saw  the  enemy  retreating  and  our  line 
a<lvancing.  tlioy  broke  from  their  concealment,  shouting  and  clapping 
their  hands  for  joy.  A  delay  of  an  hour  occurreil  whilst  waiting  tho 
movement  of  some  troops  to  our  left,  under  orders  from  General  IJ. 
R.  Johnson.  During  this  time,  however,  a  portion  of  Dent's  and  Ever^ 
eti's  batteries  were  placed  in  position  in  front  of  the  brigade,  and 
we  rfjjleniiihed  our  cartridge-boxes  from  the  enemy's  three  wagon*, 
laden  with  orlnance,  which  had  been  captured  here 

Between  one  and  two  o'clock.  P.  M.,  I  advanced  to  the  top  of  tha 
hill,  when  we  were  again  upon  the  encmj',  who  opone<l  a  heavy  fire 
upon  us.  Uur  batteries  and  small  arms  here  were  engaging  ihe  enemy 
gome  fifteen  minutes,  when  our  line  fell  back  some  fifteen  paces  under 
coverof  the  hill,  Gregg's  command,  on  my  right,  giving  back  at  the 
same  time;  tliis,  no  doubt,  having  started  the  backward  movement. 
Just  at  this  time  the  two  brigades  (D^y's  and  one  other)  were  march- 
ing in  line  of  battle  by  the  Villette  house  to  connect  with  our  lines 
on  the  left,  they  changing  direction  to  the  right  for  this  purpose.  A 
general  ailvance  was  ordered,  and  our  batteries  opened  simultaneously. 
'J"he  firing  was  heavy,  and  the  enemy's  massive  columns  were  luirled 
against  our  wearied  heroes.  Again  our  line  fell  back.  Two  brigajles 
now  came  up  in  our  rear  ;  one  of  these  brigades  moved  in  advance  of 
us,  and,  receiving  the  enemy's  fire,  fell  back  behind  us  again.  My 
line  was  again  ordered  forward,  tho  enemy  being  within  fifty  yards  of 
the  batteries  and  but  one  pieco  firing.  Hero  commenced  a  most  des- 
perate struggle  for  the  possession  of  this  ground — Missionary  ridge. 
The  battle  raged  furiously,  and  the  ti<lc  of  success  wavered  in  the 
balances  ;  charge  after  charge  was  repulsed,  only  to  rally  and  charge 
again.  Agiiin  our  line  fell  back,  ami  the  untiring,  indi)mit.abie  and 
determined  officers  rallied  again  their  fast  thinning  ranks,  ami  again 
moved  forward.  Here  officers  and  men  behaved  most  gallantly  ; 
appeals  to  love  of  home  and  wounded  comrade?i,  and  the  peril. of  the 
Kioment  were  made,  and  never  did  men  rush  forward  more  eagor,  dar- 
ing, desperate  and  defiantly.  The  enemy's  treble  lines  now  began  to 
show  that  our  fire  was  terribly  cifective  upon  them.  Our  cartridge- 
boxes  had  been  replenished  as  required,  and  still  wo  were  nearly  out. 
Again  more  ammunition  was  supplied,  and  the  contlict  continued  hot 
and  heavy.  The  enemy  was  now  hlowly  giving  back,  hard  pre^sed  by 
our  now  shattered  remnants.  An  )ther  charge,  with  the  yells  of  the 
men  and  cheers  of  the  officers,  and  forward  we  pressed,  only  to  dis- 
cover th«  victory  was  ours  and  the  enemy  in  full  retreat.  This  series 
of  engagements  lasted  four  long  hours,  during  which  Johnson's  bri- 
gade won  many  laurels  and  an  imperishable  name.  At  this  moment, 
another   brigade  came  up,  and   was   loudly  clieered  forward,  but  the 


SOS 

enemy  made  no  resistance.  Our  ammnnition  being  (with  but  few 
exceptftns)  exhausted,  the  briga(ie  haltpd  and  reformed,  moved  for- 
ward, aVont-facf'd,  mnrched  back  some  distance  and  formed  on  ^lan- 
igault'a  line.  Here  we  sent  forward  picketi*  to  cover  our  front,  and 
several  prisoners  were  brouglit  in.  The  men  rested  on  thoir  arms 
during  the  night,  having  on  this  day  won  a  victory — one  of  the  most 
glorious  of  the  war.  In  this  engagement.  Everett's  battery  fired  very 
effectively,  being  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  Thia  evening  he  had 
one  sergeant  and  two  men  wounded,  and  five  horses  shot  down  by  the 
enemy  during  the  CEgagement.  This  morning,  whilst  firing  on  the 
enemy's  wa^jon  train,  he  dismounted  one  piece  of  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery, lie  fired  foiir  hundred  and  twenty-eight  rounds  during  the 
four  days'  fight.  I  commend  the  officers  of  this  battery  to  fnvoralle 
consideration  for  their  fidelity  and  good  conduct  whils;  under  fire. 

I  have  also  to  notice  the  services  of  Lieutenant  Dent,  commanding 
Robinson's  battery,  whose  fire  upon  the  enemy  was  incessant  and 
effective.  Both  officers  and  men  behaved  most  coolly  and  gallantly 
during  the  day. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  attesting  to  the  gallant  and  efficient  con- 
duct of  the  following  officers  : 

Lieutenant  Colonel  McEwen,  Jr.,  commanding  forty-fourth  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  wrinnded. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Snowdcn,  commanding  twenty-fifth  Tennessee 
regiment. 

Colonel  Keeble.  commanding  twenty-third  TennesscB  regiment. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Ready,  of  twenty-third  Tennessee  regiment, 
wounded. 

Major  Lrwe,  TenncBSce  regiment,  wounded. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Floyd,  commanding  seventeenth  Tennessee 
regiment. 

Major  Davis,  of  seventeenth  Tennessee  regiment,  wounded  and 
captured. 

Adjutants  Cross,  Gwynn  and  Fitzpatrick,  and  Lieutenant  Gregg 
who  came  into  the  action  on  Sunday  morning.  Also,  Captain  Terry, 
who  afte»  he  was  wounded  on  Saturday  evening,  rendered  me  valuable 
•  ervio »  on  Sunday.  Mention  may  also  be  made  of  the  following  :  Pri- 
vate (ex-captsin)  Ridley,  of  twr-nty-third  Tennessee,  who  went  into  the 
action  and  fonght  manfully  with  a  gun,  setting  a  good  example  to  alj. 
Lieutenant  Vernon,  rf  company  1$,  twenty-thiid  Tennessee,  for  the 
mannor  in  which  he  bore  himself. 

On  entering  the  action  this  command  numbered  as  follows,  viz  : 


Commands. 

Officers. 

Men. 

.AggngaU. 

Forty-fourth  Tennesse, 

28 

266 

294 

Twenty-fifth  Tennessee, 

2.5 

120 

I4.i 

Twenty-third  Tennessee, 

28 

153 

ISI 

Seventeenth  Tennessee, 

27 

222 

2J0 

Bsttery, 

— 



8^—054 

The  number  of  the  different  regiments  of  this  ccnunand  was  thai 


Wounded. 

Captured  and  Missing 

88 

15 

61 

C9 

77 

13 

45 

1 

3 

.  . 

2U4 

iiiiiill,  the  barefooted  men  Laving  been  sent  to  the  rear  by  order  froni 
liie  division  ccmnjumler,  as  follows  : 

Fyrty-fourlh  Tennessee,  fifty-six  men ;  twenty-fifih  Tennessee, 
twenty-three  men  ;  twenty-third  Teune.-see,  tvfcnty-six  rueu  ;  seven- 
ti'Ciith  Tennt'psoe,  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  and  f«o  oflicers. 
-V'trcgutc,  two  hundred  andtwcnty-seven. 

My  loss  was  as  follows  : 

Command.        •  KilUd. 

Forty-fourth  Tennessee,  10 
ScM-nteenth         " 

Twenty-third       "  8 

Twenty-fifth        "  D 
Ilattery, 

Tital,  23  274  !3S 

AggregKto,  40n. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  stating  that  there  was  no  straggling,  either 
by  officers  or  men.  I  have  also  great  satisfaction  in  noticing  the  med- 
ical appoiutnienta  of  this  brigade,  for  promptness  and  efficiency.  The 
care  and  treatment  of  the  wounded  by  i)r.  Jackson,  of  forty-fourth 
Tenni'ssee,  acting  brigade  surgeon  ;  Dr.  Plummer,  of  twenty-third 
Tennessee  Dr.  ilarris  and  Dr.  Jones,  of  seventeenth  Tt;nnessec; 
hn  i  Drs.  Fryar  and  Jackson,  of  twenty-fifth  Tennessee.  Also,  I 
return  my  thnnks  to  Dr.  John  Gannaway,  who  volunteered  his  ser- 
vices and  rendered  himself  useful  in  a.  high  degree.  I  think  1 
may  say  that  the  wounded  of  this  brigade  received  attention  second 
to  no  other  brigade  in  the  army  commanded  by  General  Bragg. 

I  have  to  report  the  following  captare  of  ordnance  and  ordnance 
stores:  Ihree  hundred  Enfield  rifles,  (in  train;)  two  thousand  two 
hundred  Enfield  rifles,  diiTereut  calibres,  stacked  on  the  field  ;  total, 
two  thousand  five  hundred.  Sixty-nine  thousand  Enfield  cartridges, 
Ciilibre .five  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  (in  train;)  thirty-five  thou- 
s.ind  Enfield  cartridges  issued  from  enemy's  wagons  ;  fifty  thousand 
piled  with  small  arms  ;   total,  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  thoi^gand. 

or  the  wagons  captured  this  day,  nine  (four-horse)  were  secured 
by  tliis  brigade;  one,  with  team,  for  ordnance  traia.  Also,  three  wagon 
loads  of  accoutrements. 

Lieutenant  Lake,  in  charge  of  the  division  ordnance  train,  has 
Tn.'ijf  the  foregoing  report  to  me.  The  pro  rata  of  this  capture  is  due 
to  Johnson's  brigade,  viz  :  One  hundred  Enfield  rifles,  seven  hundrc<l 
and  thirty-three  guns  diflerent  calibre,  stacked  on  field;  total,  ciglK 
hundred  and  thirty-three.  Twenty-three  thousand  Enfield  cartridges; 
eleven  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-six  issued  from  enemy's  wag- 
ons; sixteen  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  piled  with  small 
arms;  total,  fifty-one  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-three.  One 
wagon  load  of  accoutrements  I  have  also  to  enumerate.  Three  brass 
twelve-pounder  cannon  ;  three  caissons  for  cannon,  captured  on  the 
field  on  Sunday  evening  by  this  brigade  as  mentioned  in  this  report, 
oiiO  of  which  was  hauled  to  the  rear  by  Lieutenant  Everett,  command- 


•2n5 

ing  my  battery,  "uttacheJ."  I  would  also  state  that  one  of  the  above 
guns  was  manned  by  men  (artillerists)  i'rora  the  seventeenth  and 
twentj'-third  Tennessee  regiments,  and  used,  under  direction  of  Lieii- 
tenant  Dent,  with  good  efiect  on  the  enemy  during  the  four  hours' 
contest  on  Sunday  evening.  I  have  also  to  mention  Ordnance  Ser- 
geant J.  F.  Baxter,  wounded  on  the  field.  This  man  is  an  uutirir.t; 
officer  and  faithful  to  his  trust. 

The  provost  guard,  under  Lieutenants  Ewing  and  Orr,  rendered 
invaluable  service.  I  am  pleased  to  notice  the  conduct  of  private 
Turner  Good.-ill,  of  the  provost  guard,  who,  in  the  thiirkeft  of  the 
fight  on  Sunday  evening,  seeing  the  men  all  so  gallantly  at  work  and 
hard  pressed,  came  up  with  his  gun  and  fought  manfully  through  the 
hottest  of  the  fight  and,  by  words  of  encouragement  to  his  fellow  soldiers 
and  example,  did  his  whole  duty  as  a  soldier.and  provost  guard. 

The  capture  of  prisoners  by  this  brigade  in  the  two  days'  fight 
exceeds  six  hundred  men  and  officers  sent  to  the  rear.  I  would  a!s^ 
mention  Lieutenant  Ewing,  of  the  provost  guard,  from  the  seven- 
teenth Tennessee  regiment,  who,  finding  that  the  officers  of  his  com- 
pany had  all  been  placed  Iwrs  de  combat,  asked  permission  and  returnel 
to  take  command  of  his  company  on  Sunday  morning.  He  is  a  wor- 
thy and  promising  officer. 

I  have  to  report  the  following  articles  captured  from  the  enemy, 
and  secured  by  Dr.  John  W.  Templeton  for  the  use  of  the  brigade : 
One  two-horse  spring  ambulance,  seventy  dozen  bandages,  two  pounds 
opium,  and  other  medicines,  one  dozen  setts  splints.  Dr.  Templeton 
is  the  hospital  steward  of  the  forty-fourth  Tennessee  regiment. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

JOHN  S.  FULTON, 
Culoncl  commanding  Johnson"^  brigade. 


RErORT    OF    COLONEL     D.     C.    GOVAN,    COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

IlF.AnQl'ARTERS  LionKLi.'s  Br.rctDE,       > 
Mi:>sionary  llidge,  Odobtr  6,  1S63.  J 

Captain  G.  A.  Williams, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General : 

Captain  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
part  taken  by  this  brigade  in  the  recent  battle  of  Chickamauga,  on 
the  I9th  and  2ilth  of  September,  I8G3: 

On  the  IJSth  of  September,  about  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I,  with  Gen- 
eral W'iilthall's  brigade,  forming  a  reserve  division,  commanded  by 
General  Liddell,  in  Walker's  corps,  arrived  in  front  of  Alexander's 
bridge,  on  West  Chickamauga  creek.  I  was  ordered  to  move 
forward,  supp  -rting  General  Walthall's  brigade  in  an  attack  to  gaia 
possession  of  the  bridge,  then  hold  by  the  enemy.  Wilthail's  brigii  le, 
moving  forward,  soon  engngod  the  enemy,  who  occupied  a  dense  thicket 
on  the  south-side  of  the  creek,  near  the  bridge.  After  firing  several 
volleys  he  hastily  retreated,  leaving  us  in  possession  of  the  bridge, 
which  was,  however,  rendered  useless,  the  planks  having  been  removed. 
The  brigade  was  not  actively  engaged,  excepting  the  skirmishers,  who 
were  thrown  forward  on  General  Walthall's  left  to  the  creek,  susiaiu- 
ing  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  five  wounded.  Moving  down  the  creek  one 
and  a  half  miles,  I  crossed  at  Byron's  ford,  and  bivouacked  about  one 
mile  from  the  ford. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  I  moved  in  a  southwesterly  di<-ec- 
tion,  and  halted  in  a  position  nearly  opposite  Alexander's  bridge. 
While  here,  awaiting  orders,  it  was  ascertained  that  a  heavy  colutnn  of 
the  enemy  was  moving  around  to  turn  our  right  flank.  Wilson's  and 
Ector's  brigades  were  already  engaged,  and  were  being  heavily 
pressed.  About  twelve  o'clock,  M.,  1  was  ordered  to  move  forward  to 
their  support.  Walthall's  brigade,  being  on  my  right,  formed  line  of 
battle  facing  northward.  Moving  forward  about  one-quarter  of  a 
mile,  I  engaged  the  enemy,  and  succeedid  by  a  charge  in  driving  hiin 
from  his  position,  capturing  his  artillery  and  three  or  four  hundred 
prisoners.  Pursuing  this  advantage,  I  encountered  his  sccoi.d  line, 
which  was  also  routed  after  a  hotly  contested  tight,  again  leaving  his 
artillery  in  our  possession.  I  had  previously  been  cautioned  by  Gen- 
eral Liddell  to  look  well  to  my  left  flank,  as  a  force  of  the  enemy  wcie 
reported  advancing  in  that  direction.  I  accordingly  instructed  Colo- 
nel GiUo.'^pie,  commanding  the  left  regiment  of  the  brigade,  to  protect 
his  left  by  throwing  skirmishers  well  on  his  flank,  and,  in  case  of  being 
attacked  from  that  direction,  to  change  his  front  so  as  to  meet  the 
attack.  About  the  time,  or  just  previous  to  engaging  the  third  lino, 
a  heavy  column  of  the  enemy  moved  on  my  left  Hank.  The  IMt  Regi- 
ment, according  to  iny  instructions,  changed  front  bo  as  to  meet  it, 
while  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  engaged  him  in  front.     This 


2(17 

overwhelming  force,  which  attackcil  my  left  flank  and  had  gained  my 
rear,  forced  me  to  retire,  which  movement  I  executed  by  t^e  flank,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  capture  of  a  portion  of  the  brigsi  lo,  and  reformed 
my  line  in  rear  of  General  Cheatham's  division,  then  moving  into 
position.  It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  we  had  engajjed  the 
whole  of  General  Thomas'  (Federal)  corps.  The  two  lines  which  I 
had  diiven  back  in  confusion  were  compoiril  in  part  of  the  fifth,  four- 
teenth, fifteenth,  sixteenth  and  twenty-first  regiments  regular  United 
States  army.  l''our  hundred  men  and  some  olhcers  belonging  to  these 
regiments  were  capture!  and  safely  sent  to  the  rear,  together  with 
three  I'arrott  guns,  compo.sing  a  part  of  Loomis'  battery,  designated 
as  company  II,  fifth  artillery.  United  States  army,  which  were  sent  to 
the  rear  under  chirge  of  three  men  belonging  to  the  fir.it  Lnui.^iana 
regiment,  and  delivered  to  M.ijur  I'almer,  chief  of  artillery,  Walker's 
corps.  One  piece,  a  James  riile  gun,  captured  by  the  second  and  fif- 
teenth Arkansas  regiments,  was  carried  lo  the  rear  by  hand  by  men 
belonging  to  that  regiment,  an  1  delivered  to  Lieutenant  .""'hannou, 
commanding  Swett's  battery.  The  other  pieces  from  which  the  enemy 
lud  been  driven  (the  horses  atiacht-d  to  iheiu  being  eithei  killed  or 
disabled)  we  were  couipclled  to  leave  buliiiid  when  we  retired  Tnia 
engagement  Lasted  nearly  two  hours 

In  the  fight  many  gallant  olhcers  nnd  privates  were  killed  an'i 
wounded.  Among  the  first  was  (,"  ibmol  L.  FLMtherston,  C'tmmifidiiig 
fit'th  and  thirteenth  .\rk;-'i  ■  ;n  iii-t,  wholell,  mortally  wound -d, 
while  g-illantly  ici  iiu;:  i,  ml  liie.itenant  Colonel  Biucuin, 

corarnandiiig  eighth  .Viki  ii~t  Loui-iiani   regiment,  sevcridy 

wounded,  while  carrying  the  color.^  tt  the  liead  of  his  regiment  L^te 
in  the  evening  I  was  oidend  to  the  extreme  right,  on  the  pr.ilongHt.un 
of  the  line  occupied  by  General  Cheathin,  f icing  westwaiil,  with  Wal- 
thall's brigide  on  my  left.  Moving  forward  I  ascertained  tliat  there 
was  no  coiis  <ler!ible  force  of  the  enemy  in  my  front,  the  firing  in  li- 
CHting  him  to  be  m  the  immediate  front  of  General  Walthall  m  force. 
My  left  rcpi'Mint.  th"  -ixth  and  seventh  y\rkauf»as,  gave  way,  and 
mo-e'l  ;il 'iji  tv..i  lii;ii  ,r.-d  yard-"  tc  the  rear,  beinj;.  as  they  infuriu^-d 
TDf-,  cnfilaflo  i  ar:d  )ii  i  into.  While  in  lhi:«  position,  otk;  cf  our  own 
batteries  in  rear  fired  over  roy  lines  snd  slightly  wounded  several  of 
my  men.  The  fire  from  the  battery  continuing,  I  moved  a  short  dis- 
tance to  the  rear,  and  by  the  left  flank,  and  fiinned  on  Walihall's  right, 
in  which  position  we  remained  during  the  niglit.  I  was  informed  by 
several  officers  thst  there  was  a  battery  iinini'liately  in  ffont  of  the 
last  position  occupied,  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned, -and  which  I 
might  have  had  conveyed  to  the  rear  if  I  bad  ascertained  the  fact 
sooner. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2nth,  about  nine  o'clock,  I  was  ordered  to 
take  a  position  on  the  extreme  right,  snpporting  Major  General  Breck- 
inridge's division.  Aboat  noon  1  was  ordered  to  advance,  making  a 
rlight  change  of  direction  to  the  left.  While  executing  this  move- 
ment, €  was  ordered  by  one  of  Lieutenant  Geueral  Polk's  staff  ollicert 
to  the  assistance  of  Gist's  brigaile,  which  was  heavily  pressed  by  the 
•Dcmy.     The  officer  could  only  give  me  general  dircoiion  as  to  wh'jto 


208 

(^eneiTil  Gist's. brigaile  wns  engaged.  Er.countering  no  cr.pmy  in, my 
front,  I  commenced  changing  direction  to  the  left,  so  as  to  meet  the 
enemy,  who  had  opened  fire  upon  me  from  the  edge  of  the  woods 
immediately  on  my  left  flank.  This  movement,  difficult  at  all  times, 
WBB  executed  across  an  open  fielil.  in  an  t.xposcd  position  and  under  a 
heavy  fii>e  of  musketry.  The  brigade  pressed  gallantly  forward,  and 
euccei-ded  in  driving  the  enemy  froi.n  his  position  in  the  woods. 
Continuing  this  circular  movement  to  the  loft,  the  left  regiment 
pressed  up  to  an  angle  of  the  enemy's  fortifications,- while  the  right 
continued  to  preps  the  enemy  across  an  open  ficl  1,  until  I  h-d  reached 
a  position  forming  an  acute  angle  with  our  original  direction  and 
almost  immediately  in  rear  of  a  line  of  the  enemy's  strongest  breast- 
works. 

Gist's  brigade,  which  I  bad  not  succeeded  in  finding,  had  fallen 
back  about  the  time  I  bad  engaged  the  enemy.  I  was  thus  completely 
isolated  from  our  line.  I  would  here  state  that  Walthall's  brigade 
had  previously  been  sent  to  another  part  of  the  field. 

The  eneroy,  being  massed  in  heavy  force  behind  his  breastworks 
arid  perceiving  the  interval  between  my  left  and  the  right  of  our  lines, 
made  a  rigorous  attack  upon  my  left  and-succeeded,  by  enfilailing  and 
overlapping  it,  in  breaking  it,  and  thus,  while  the  right  was  diiving 
the  enemy,  it  was  in  danger  of  being  captured.  This  was  only 
obviated  by  the  greatest  elForts  on  the  part  of  the  regimental  coin- 
njanders,  who,  after  they  bail  succeeded  in  halting  their  commands, 
moved  by  the  right  flank  and,  by  a  circuitous  route,  succeeded  in 
rejoining  the  coraniarid.  I  immediately  reformed  the  line,  and  was 
placeii  in  position  in  the  front  line,  on  the  left  of  General  Walthall's 
brigade. 

About  five  o'clock,  P.  M.,  orders  were  received  to  advance.  There 
was  a  considerable  interval  between  me  and  Jackson's  brigade,  next 
on  my  left,  which  fact  was  represented  to  General  Liddell,  and  by  hiia 
communicated  to  General  Walker.  The  movement  cmnmenced,  ],  in 
obedience  to  orders,  conforming  my  uiovcments  to  those  of  General 
^Valthall's  brigade,  next  on  my  right.  I  passed  on,  moving  square 
to  the  front,  two  of  the  regiments  pas.-^ing  through  an  open  field, 
through  which  I  had  executed  the  change  of  direction  to  the  left  in 
the  engagements  last  mentioned.  The  skirmishers  in  my  front 
developed  no  enemy. 

Just  before  reaching  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette  road,  Captain 
Stringfellow,  first  Louisiana,  in  corauiand  of  the  skirmishers,  reported 
to  me  that  he  saw  two  of  the  enemy's  batteries  in  position,  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  my  left  flank,  on  either  side  of  the 
above  mentioned  road,  supported  by  a  long  line  of  infantry.  Jack- 
son's brigade,  which  was  some  distance  to  my  left  and  rear,  having 
engaged  the  enemy  in  his  front,  had  halted,  thus  leaving  vay  left 
entirely  unprotected.  Upon  examination  I  found  the  report  of  Cap- 
tain Stringtellow  to  bo  correct,  di.scovering  the  enemy  to  be  in 
position  as  he  represented.  It  was  impossible,  from  the  dif  j^sition 
of  the  enemy's  force,  for  mo  to  estriuate  myself  by  changing  my 
front.     Reaching  a  position  just  across  the  road,  and  on  a  line  with 


209 

General  WalthaH'j  left,  I  ordered  the  men  to  lie  down.  The  enemy 
immediately  opened  fire  from  the  two  batteries  on  my  left,  and  alio 
with  Broall  arms;  while  two  batteries,  afterward^  ascertained  to  be  oa 
Get:eral  Walthall's  right,  opened  almost  at  the  same  time.  Under 
this  heavy  and  galling  6re,  no  other  alternative  was  left  but  to  with- 
draw the  brigade  as  speedily  as  possible,  to  save  it  from  annihilation 
or  capture..  The  brigade  retreated  in  considerable  confusion,  bnt 
was  promptly  rallied,  and  reformed  some  three  or  four  hundred  yards 
in  rear. 

Shortly  afterwards.  I  again  advanced  to  a  position  near  the  house  of 
McDonald,  on  the  Chittanooga  and  Lafayette  road,  and  some  distance 
to  the  right  of  the  position  from  which  1  had  just  been  ilriven.  Just 
about  this  time  the  enemy's  line  gave  way  in  every  quarter,  and  the 
battle  was  ended. 

The  loss  in  officers  and  privates  was  very  heavy,  being  over  fifty 
per  cent,  of  the  number  carried  into  the  fight,  a  report  of  which  is 
herewith  forwarded. 

For  instances  of  individual  bravery  and  skill  among  company  ofS-  . 
cers  and  privates,  I  refer  yon  to  reports  of  regimental  commanders. 
Among  the  field  officers,  Lieutenant  Colonels  John  L.  Murray  and  R. 
F.  Harvey,  the  former  commanding  the  fifth  and  thirteenth  A/kansas 
regiments,  the  latter  the  second  and  fifteenth  Arkansas  regiments, 
■were  particularly  distinguished  for  their  gallantry  during  the  engage- 
ments; and  by  their  coolness  and  skill,  on  two  occasions,  saved  their 
regiments  from  capture.  1  strongly  recommend  the  first  (Lieutenant 
Colonel  Murray)  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  President  as 
one  particularly  distinguished  for  his  skill  and  gallantry  in  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga.  To  Lieutenant  Cohmel  Harvey,  then  commanding 
the  second  and  fifteenth  regiments,  an  equal  meed  of  praise  is  due, 
but,  unfortunately  for  the  service,  this  gallant  officer  died  on  the  3nth 
instant  of  disease  contracted  by  over-exertions  on  the  field,  lamented 
by  all  who  knew  him. 

To  Captain  Fletcher,  companjiyA,  thirteenth  Arkansas  regiment,  I 
am  indebted  for  earing  one  piece  of  Swett's  battery,  which  had 
several  horses  disabled  anil,  but  for  his  timely  efforts,  would  have 
fallen  into  the  enemy's  hands.  He  seized  the  colors  of  the  second 
and  fifteenth  Arkansas  regiments  and  rallied  enough,  men  to  drive 
back  the  ^nemy,  whose  skirmishers  were  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  gun. 

Lieutenant  Shannon,  commanding  Swett's  battery,  handled  it  with 
distinguished  skill  and  gallantry,  and  most  effectively,  whenever  an 
opportunity  offered. 

The  members  of  my  staff.  Lieutenant  J.  G.  Warfield,  assistant 
adjutant  and  inspector  general,  Lieufnant  W.  L.  Laurie,  asustant 
adjutant  general,  and  Licntenaut  G.  T  Saowden,  aid-de-camp,  ren- 
dered me  efficient  aid  and  were  always  at  my  command. 

In  conrli-i  n.  ,\?  an  act  of  justice  t6  the  brigade  which   I  had  the 

honor  t  and  with  which  I  have  been  associated   in  all  the 

hard  co:.  .    ,'.-$  in  the  west,  from  Sbiloh  to  this  last  memorable 

one,  I  beg  lcr;ve  to  slate  that  they  never  failed  to  drive  the  enemy  in 

U 


210 

their  front,  and  advanced  each  time  witli  a  single  line,  unsupported, 
and  with  one  or  the  other  of  my  flanks  unprotected,  and  that  on  no 
former  occasion  was  their  courage  and  endurance  more  severely 
tested,  nor  in  any  previous  battle  did  they  ever  exhibit  more  deter- 
iiiined  bravery  and  gallantry. 

I  aui,  Captain,  very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

D.  C.  GOVAN, 
Colonel  ^commanding  'Brigade. 


RErORT    OF    COLONEL  R.    Q.  MILLS,    COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

IlEAnQUARTEHS  DESIfLEU's  BpifiADE,  } 

Missionary  liidgt,  Oct.  6,  13G3.       i 

Captnin  J.  A.  Bick, 

A.   A.    General  Cleburne's  Division  : 

Captain:  In  complinncc  with  orders  from  general  hcaflquartcrs,  I 
hi^rcwith  submit  my  report  of  the  action  of  thid  brigade  ia  the  battle 
of  the  Ittth  and  Si'th  ultimo: 

This  brigade,  composed  of  Colonel  Wilkes'  Texas  regiment,  Colonel 
Mills'  Texas  regiment.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hutchinson's  Arkansas 
regiment,  and  Capt;un  Dnuglas'  Texas  battery,  under  command  of 
Brigadier  General  James  Deshler,  moved  about  three  o'clock,  P.  M., 
on  Saturday,  the  i;  th  ultimo,  from  a  point  near  the  junction  of  the 
Lafiiyette  and  McLcmore's  valley  roads,  towards  our  extreme  right,, 
and  ill  rear  and  {Parallel  with  our  line  of  battle.  About  half-past  four 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  we  crossed  s  branch  of  the  Chickainauga  and  moved 
directly  and  hastily  forward  to  the  extreme  right,  where  the  bnttlo 
seemed  raging  with  great  fierceness.  After  passing,  for  sometime, 
through  swarms  of  stragglers,  prisoners  and  wountled,  we  arrived  on 
the  line,  and  were  formed,  facing  o^r  right  fiank,  and  moved  forward 
to  the  attack,  and  proceeded  some  twohundreil  yards,  when  the  brigade 
was  hnltcd  and  ordered  to  le  down.  In  a  few  minutes  we  rose  up  and 
advanced  to  the  front,  and  occupied  some  time  in  getting  our  position. 

It  was  now  getting  dark,  but  the  firing  was  still  heavy  and  conptant 
beiwfcn  the  enemy  and  some  brigade  opposite  our  extreme  right  and 
p«-r|iendiciilar  to  our  line.  We  were  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards 
f.-om  liis  right  flank,  where  he  had  a  battery  of  artillery  firing  at  the 
tn  ops  on  onr  right.  We  remained  here  some  minutes.  Brigadier 
G<neral  I)eshlcr  did  not  know  but  that  the  battery  was  our  own,  and 
dtcliiied  to  advance  on  it  in  the  dark  ;  it  being  then  imposfiblo  to  dis-- 
tingTiish  friend  from  foe.  The  contest  in  front  of  our  tight  was  Boon 
decided  in  favor  of  the  Confederates.  The  enemy  was  beaten  b.-ick, 
and  there  was  a  temporary  lull  on  tlie  field.  The  skirmishers  from 
Ctbnfl  Wilkes'  rcg;racnt,  in  moving  forward  in  the  dark,  came  sud- 
der.lv  and  unexpectedly  on  the  enemy's  line  and  were  captured.  He,, 
in  attempting  to  retreat  frcm  the  brigade  in  his  front,  as  unexpectedly 
can  e  upon  (.'olonnl  Wilkes'  regiment  on  his  flank,  where  he  wa;*  greeted 
with  a  volley  that  killed  and  wounded  several  and  caused  them  to 
prop<"'S0  a  Burremler,  when  about  one  bundled  prisoners,  inclu'iing 
»ev(  ral  officers,  were  taken,  together  with  two  stand  of  colors  from 
the  -eventy-pevenih  Illinois  and  the  seventy-ninth  Pennsylvania,  by 
Colorel  Wilkrs'  regiment,  against  which  the  main  force  came.  Some 
dozen  or  more  were  takon,  e:ich,  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Anderson  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Hutchinaon.  In  th^  affair  Colonel  Wilkes  al«o 
recaptured  his  skirmishers.     This,  with  the  exception  ot  occacioua'L 


212 

firing  by  our  skirmifhers,  terminated  the  fighting  for  the  night.  We 
moved  back  Bcveral  hundred  yards  and  formed  line  of  battle,  and  laid 
down  to  rest  till  morning.  In  the  night  our  line  was  again  reformed, 
throwing  forward  our  left  wing. 

About  half-past  nine  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  2ilth,  we  moved 
off  a  short  distance  by  the  left  flank,  and  then  advanced  to  the  front, 
jnseing  through  a  pojtion  of  Major  General  Chc.itham's  division, 
llaving  gained  an  open  ground  several  hundred  yards  in  our  front, 
the  enemy  began,  from  one  or  two  long-range  guns,  to  shell  cur  line, 
and,  as  we  approached  nearer,  gave  us  several  shots  of  canister,  killing 
and  wounding  some  fifteen  or  twenty  men.  We  finally  arrived,  about 
ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the  ground  we  were  ordered  to  occupy.  We 
found  it  being  hastily  abandoned  by  the  troops  who  were  occupying 
it  before  we  came.  We  advanced  to  the  crest  of  the  bill,  some  two 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  enemy's  barricades  and  breastworks, 
when  he  opened  a  destructive  fire  upon  us.  ^Ve  were  ordered  to  lie 
down  and  commence  firing.  AVe  now  began  the  engagement  in 
earnest,  but  at  great  disadvantage.  The  enemy  was  behind  his 
defences,  and  we  without  cover;  he  had  two  batteries  of  artillery,  we 
had  none,  our  own  battery  not  being  able  to  get  a  pSsition  to  give  us 
aid.  Captain  Scmple's  splendid  battery  was  on  the  hill  with  us,  and 
on  the  extreme  left  of  the  brigade,  when  we  moved  up  and  occupied 
the  hill.  It  fired  a  few  shots,  and  was  moved  to  some  other  portion 
of  the  ficlil.  The  enemy  poured  on  our  heads,  from  ten  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  to  half-past  one  or  two  o'elocli,  P.  M.,  a  constant  and  terrible  fire 
of  artillery  and  musketry,  which  we  returned  with  our  rifles,  with  the 
eame  constancy  and  stubbornness. 

About  twelve  o'clock,  M.,  our  supply  of  ammunition  began  to  give 
out,  and  I  sent  a  courier  to  Brigadier  General  Deshler  to  inform  him 
of  the  fact  and->to  ask  where  we  could  get  more.  A  few  minutes  after 
I  saw  him  coming  towards  my  ri;;ht,  some  forty  paces  from  me,  when 
he  was  struck  by  a  shell  in  the  chest  and  his  heart  literally  torn  fron 
his  bosom.  I  may  pause  here  to  pay  a  passing  tiibute  to  the  memory 
of  our  fallen  chief.  He  was  brave,  generous  and  kind,  even  to  a  fault. 
Ever  watchful  and  careful  for  the  safety  of  any  member  of  his  com- 
mand, he  was  ever  ready  to  peril  his  own.  Refusing  to  permit  a  staff 
officer  to  endanger  his  life  in  going  to  examine  the  cartriilge  boxes  to 
see  what  amount  of  animuniton  his  men  had,  he  cheerfully  started 
himself  to  brave  the  tempest  of  death  that  raged  on  the  crest  of  the 
hill.  He  had  gone  but  little  way  when  he  fell — fell  as  he  would  \Vi8h 
to  fall — in  the  very  centre  of  his  brigade,  in  the  midst  of  the  lino, 
between  the  ranks,  and  surrounded  by  the  bodies  of  his  fallen  com- 
rades. He  poured  out  his  blood  upon  the  spot  watered  by  the  best 
blood  of  his  brigade.  Among  the  host  of  brave  hearts  that  were 
offered  on  the  altar  of  sacrifice  for  their  country  on  that  beautiful 
Sabbath,  there  perished  not  one  nobler,  braver  or  better  than  his.  He 
lived  beloved,  and  fell  lamented  and  mourned  by  every  officer  and 
man  of  his  command.  He  sleeps  on  the  spot  where  ho  fell ;  on  the 
field  of  his  country's  victory  and  glory,  surrounded  by  the  bodies  of 
those  who  stood  around  him  in  life,  and  lie  around  him  in  death.     A 


/,A„ .  //.-i 


213 

messenger  from  Colonel  Wilkes'  regiment  informed  me  of  the  fact  soon 
nfter  General  Deslilcr  fell,  also  that  Colonel  Wilkes  was  wounded  and 
not  with  the  regiment. 

Just  at  this  critical  juncture  our  ammunition  was  exhausted,  and 
no  one  knew  where  to  get  more.  I  assumed  command,  and,  suppos- 
ing that  the  enemy  would  advance  as  soon  as  the  firing  ceased,  1 
ordered  ha3-onet3  fixed  and  ihe  cartridge-boxes  of  the  wounded  and 
dead  to  be  gathered,  and  one  round  from  ttem  to  be  given  to  each 
man  to  load  his  gun  with,  and  hold  his  fire  in  reserve  to  repel  an 
assault.  While  this  order  was  being  executed.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Anderson,  who  was  on  the  left  of  my  regiment,  sent  Lieutenant  Gra- 
h:iin  to  inform  rae  that  the  four  left  companies  had  not  been  firing. 
Being  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the  enemy,  he  had  the  good  sense 
to  prevent  them  from  wasting  their  ammunition  unnecessarily.  I 
immediately  ordered  those  four  companies  to  the  front  on  the  hill, 
where  the  fire  was  hottest,  and  ordered  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ander- 
son to  take  command  of  them  and  hold  the  hill  at  every  hazard,  till 
I  could  get  arbmunition  and  have  it  distributed.  I  soon  procured  the 
ammunition,  and  refilled  my  cartridge-boxea.  At  this  time,  one  of 
the  JLijor  General's  .^taff  came  to  me  and  informed  me  that  I  was 
ordered  to  hold  the  hill  on  which  the  brigade  was  formed  ;  that  I  was 
not  permitte<l  to  advance,  and  must  not  retire  if  it  were  possible  to 
hold  my  position..  I  therefore  moved  my  command  at  once  some 
twenty  or  thirty  paces  to  the  rear  of  the  crest,  and  on  the  side  of  the 
hill,  for  cover,  leaving  a  body  of  sharpshooters  behind  trees  on  the 
tofi  of  the  hill  to  keep  up  a  fire  with  the  enemy.  The  enemy's  fire 
soon  slackened  down  to  a  contest  between  the  skirmishers.  At  the 
same  time,  he  advanced  a  lino  of  skirmishers  toward  the  open  space 
between  myj|omrfi3nd  and  Brigadier  General  Polk,  on  my  right.  I 
soon  rcceivea  information  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Coit,  then  com- 
manding Wilkes'  regiment,  that  the  enemy  was  moving  around  my 
ri^ht  flank  in  force.  I  ordered  him  to  throw  out  a  company  of  flank- 
ers and  engage  them.  In  less  than  twenty  minutes  1  was  informed 
that  our  ekirmishers  were  retiring  before  the  enemy.  I  immedi- 
ately ordered  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hutchinson  to  reinforce  the  skir- 
mishers with  one  company  from  his  regiment,  which  was  promptly 
done.  Still  hearing  of  this  flank  movement,  I  ordered  Captain  Ken- 
ard,  of  Lieutenant  Col.  Anderson's  regiment,  to  reinforce  the  other 
two  companies  with  his,  take  command  himself  of  these  companies, 
put  his  men  under  good  cover,  and  hold  the  enemy  in  check  at  all 
hazards.  lie  very  promptly  moved  with  his  company  to  the  ground, 
assumed  command  of  the  three  companies,  repulne  1  the  enemy's  ekir- 
nishers,  and  held  his  position  without  a  serious  struggle.  A  strag- 
gling fire  was  kept  up  between  the  enemy  and  my  sharpshootera  till 
late  in  the  evening,  when  the  advance  of  our  left  wing  c»used  him  to 
abandon  his  works  and  take  to  his  heels.  The  troops  of  my  command, 
both  officers  and  men,  behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery,  coolness 
fti.ds'."'  I,  during  the  whole   rTig;i^ement.     They  advanced 

With  ri  .  under  heavy  fire  of  ^!l.Ii,  canister  and  muiketry, 

to  tbc.r  .    .(.....,  »ud  held  it  with  firmnebs  and   unwaveiing  fortitude 


214 

4 

throughont  the  fijrht.  Texnns  vied  with  each  other  to  prove 
tbemselves  worthy  of  the  fame  won  by  their  brothers  on  other  fields, 
and  the  little  handful  of  Arkansas  troops  showed  themsclvea  worthy 
to  have  their  names  enrolled  among  the  noblest,  bravest  and  best  of 
their  State.  It  is  scarcely  possible  for  them  to  exhibit  higher  evi- 
dences of  courage,  patriotism  and  pride  on  any  other  field.  They 
were  not  perruitted  to  advance,  and  would  not  retire,  but,  as  brave 
men  and  good  soldiers,  they  ol)eyed  the  orders  of  their  general 
and  held  the  hill.  Ijieutenant  Colonel  Anderson,  Lieutenant 
("olonel  Hutchinson  and  Major  Taylor  remained  constantly  on  the 
line,  handl(Ml  their  commands  with  ability  and  conducted  themselves 
gallantly  through  the  entire  action.  , 

I  most  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  su<)ordinate  commanders 
for  particular  acts  of  gallantry,  lists  of  casualties,  etc.  I  feel  it  my 
■luty,  however,  to  record  here  the  names  of  Lieutenant  Matt.  Graham; 
of  company  C,  tenth  Texas  regiment,  and  Private  Willam  McCann, 
of  company  A.  fifteenth  Texas  regiment,  as  worthy. of  honorable 
mention  for  their  conduct,  more  than  ordinarily  gallant,  on  the  fiehl. 
Lieutenant  Graham  several  times  volunteered,  and  insisted  on  being 
permitted,  to  carry  orders  and  messages  up  and  down  the  line,  where 
he  was  constantly  exposed  to'  the  thickest  fire.  His  services  were 
highly  beneficial  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Anderson,  who  speaks  of  him 
in  terms  of  highest  praise.  Private  McCann  was  under  my  own  eye. 
He  stood  upright,  cbeeiful  and  self-possessed  in  the  very  hail  of  <ieadly 
missiles,  and  cheered  up  his  comrades  around  him.  After  he  had 
ej:pcndeil  all  bis  aramuniticn,  lie  gutheied  up  the  cartridge-boxes  of 
the  dead  and  wounded,  and  distributed  them  to  his  comrades.  He 
bore  himself  like  a  hero  through  the  entire  contest^and  fell  mortally 
wounded  by  tiic  last  voll  jys  of  the  enemy.  I  promise^him  during 
the  engagement  that  I  would  mention  his  good  conduct,  and,  as  he 
was  borne  dying  from  the  field,  he  turned  his  boyish  face  upon  me  and, 
with  a  light  and  pleasant  smile,  reminded  me  of  my  promise. 

The  first  Texas  battery,  commanded  by  Captain  James  P.  Douglas, 
■belonging  to  Deshler's  brigade,  was  not  engaged  on  the  10th.  On 
the  2llth  it  followed  the  brigade  as  far  as  the  open  field,  covered 
thickly  with  felled  timber,  v.hen,  finding  it  impossible  to  follow  us  fur- 
ther, Captiiin  ])ougla8  moved  towards  our  loft  flank  and  came  into 
another  fieM,  where  he  was  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  He  imme- 
diately opened  fire  on  Douglas  from  two  of  his  batteries,  killing  one 
of  his  horses  and  knocking  down  one  of  his  wheels.  He  extricated 
himself  from  this  position,  and,  by  order  of  Major  General  Cleburne, 
took  position  on  the  bill  with  the  brigades  of  Brigadier  Generals  Wood 
snd  Polk,  in  rear  of  my  line.  He  afterwards  moved  down  on  tile 
right  (0  where  Brigailier  General  Polk  was  warmly  engaging  the 
enemy,  tlisengaged  his  horses  and  carried  his  pieces  by  hand  in  the 
very  face  of  the  foe.  He  fired  a  few  rounds  at  sixty  or  eighty  yards 
distant  from  the  enemy,  advancing  his  pieces  by  hand  with  the  line  of 
1'rig.  General  Polk's  brigade.  The  enemy  were  soon  routed'and  fled 
the  field.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  on  Captain  Douglas 
and  the  officers  and  men  of  his  battery,  for  their  gallant  conduct. 


215 


They  were  not  ongngcl  for  any  cor.si.kr^b  e  length  of  umo,  but  the 
very  short  quarters  at  which  Captain  Douglas  threw  down  the  gsunt- 
let  soon  aecideJ  the  enemy  to  yield  the  field  to  a  battery  that  could 
charge  a  brigade  of  infantry  behind  their  rifle-pits  Captains  J.  b. 
llcarne  and  B  F.  Blackburne,  and  Lieutenant  G.  V,.  Jewell,  of  the 
brigade  staff,  arc  entitled  to  my  thanks  for  promptly  reporting  to  mc 
when  Brigadier  General  Deshler  fell,  and  for  their  vala;.ble  etrv.ces 
rendered  to  me  during  the  engggemcnt 

The  aggregate  strength  of  the  brigade,  including  the  battery,  on 
the  morning  of  the  19lh,  was  seventeen  hundred  and  e.ghty-three.  J 
lost  in  the  fight   fifty-two   killed   and   three   hundred  .and    sixty-s.x 

wounded.  .     ,  ,      c. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  Kc, 

K.  <J.  MILLS. 
Cohnd  commandiitg  Brigade. 


RErORT    OF    COLONEL     J.     H.     LEWIS,    COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

Hk\1)ijuarter3  Helm's  Bricadf.,      ) 
Before  Chattanooga,  Sepitmber  30,  1S63.  \ 

Major  James  Wilsov, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General :  ' 

Sir  :  The  death  of  Brigadier  General  B.  II.  Ilclin  makes  it  my  duty, 
83  senior  colonel,coiniii:mding,  to  report  the  part  taken  by  this  bri- 
gade in  the  actions  of  the  19th  and  20th  instants : 

On  the  Bfternoon  of  the  I8th  the  brigade  took  position  on  the  right 
bmk  of  West  Chickamauga,  near  Glaas'  mill,  except  the  second  Ken- 
tucky regiment  deployed  on  the^pposite  side  as  skirmishers. 

Ou  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  command,  with  Cobb's  battery, 
crossed  the  stream.  About  nine.  A.  M  ,  a  shot  from  the  battery  into 
a  house  about  five  hundred  yards  off,  where  the  enemy's  skirmishers 
were  concca]e<l,  excited  an  immediate  response  from  the  enemy  farther 
to  the  right,  followed  soon  after  by  a  spirited  artillery  duel,  in  which 
Slocomb's  battery,  which  bad,  in  the  meantime,  crossed  over,  partici- 
pated;  resulting  in  silencing  the  enemy.  Soon,  however,  another 
battery  of  the  enemy  opened  fire  still  farther  to  the  right.  In  a 
short  time,  orders  having  been  issued  from  Major  General  Breckin-. 
ridge  to  that  effect,  the  whole  command  recrossed  the  stream  and 
moved  to  tlio  Chattanooga  road.  Fourteen  men  of  this  brigade  were 
killed  and  wounded  on  this  occasion.  From  thence  wo  moved 
towards  Chattanooga,  to  the  position  held  by  and  relieving  Deas'  bri- 
gade. About  two  liours  after  nightfall  we  reached  a  point  one  and 
one-half  miles  beyond  Alexamler's  bridge,  where  wo  bivouacked  until 
three,  A.  M.,  20th  instant,  when  we  were  ordered  to  our  position  in 
line  of  battle  one  mile  or  more  beyond  and  on  the  left  of  the  division. 
We  got  into  position  and  were  ready  to  advance  by  about  half  past 
five,  A.  M.  Soon  after  getting  into  position,  one  company  from  each 
regiment  was,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wickliffe,  of  the 
ninth  Kentucky,  deployed  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  advance  as 
f-kiniiishers.  Becoming  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy,  the  fourth 
Kentucky  regiment.  Colonel  Nuckolls  commanding,  was  ordered  to 
their  support.  The  skirmishers  of  the  enemy,  having  the  advantage 
in  position,  showed  determination  and  kept  up  a  rapid  fire,  wound- 
ing several  officers  and  men  before  the  advance  of  the  brigade. 
Amongst  others  severely  wounded  was  Colonel  Nuckolls,  by  which 
Lis  command  was  thereafter  deprived  of  the  services  of  this  gallant 
and  meritorious  officer. 

Between  nine  and  ten,  A^  M.,  the  brigade  advanceil  in  the  following 
order,  viz  :  the  sixth  Kentucky,  'Colonel  Lewis,  and  the  second  Ken- 
tucky, Lieutenant  Colonel  Hewitt  commamling,  on  the  extreme  right 
and  left  respectively.  The  fourth  Kentucky,  Major  Thojnpson,  and 
ninth  Kentucky,  Colonel  Caldwell  commanding,  on  the  right  and  left 


217 

centre  respectively,  ami  the  forty-first  Alabama,  Colonel  Stansell  com- 
manding, in  the  centre. 

The  enemy's  fortifications  did  not  extend  the  entire  length  of  the 
brigade  front,  bat  the  sixth  and  fourth  and  Bcven  companies  of  the 
forty-first,  in  advancing,  passed  to  the  right  and  clear  of  thera, 
consequently  fighting  the  foe  on  something  like  equal  terms.  This 
portion  of  the  command,  with  but  a  momentary  halt  and  ao  hesitation, 
steadily  drove  the  enemy  back  to  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the 
Chattanooga  road,  when  I  discovered  a  battery  of  two  Napoleon  guns 
fifty  yards  beyond  the  road.  Here  I  also  discovered,  for  the  first  time, 
what  the  thicker  growth  of  timber  had  prevented  mo  from  observing 
before,  that  the  left  of  the  brigade  was  considerably  in  rear.  Neither 
a  halt  or  retreat  at  this  time  was,  in  my  judgment,  proper  or  allowa- 
ble. So  the  command  was  giVen  to  take  the  battery,  and  it  wa?  done.* 
Soon  after  crossing  the  road.  Captain  ilcCawley,  of  General  IKlm's 
staff,  informed  me  that  thp  General  had  been  mortally  wounded,  near 
the  position  occupied  by  the  left  of  the  brigade. 

The  r'ght  not  being  then  under  fire,  I  left  it  in  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant.Colonel  Cofer,  and  started,  on  Captain  McCawlcy's  horse,  to 
wh«re  the  other  portion  of  tlie  brigade  was.  I  encountered  con^iider- 
able  difficulty  in  reuniting  the  brigade,  on  account  of  the  the  distance 
apart  and  the  want  of  staff  ai<l — having  no  one  with  me  but  Captain 
Hewitt,  and  not  him  immediately,  on  account  of  the  loss  of  his  horse. 
Although  not  personally  cognizant  of  tho*behavior  of  the  left  of  the  bri- 
gade previous  to  assuming  command,  yet  I  am  warranted  by  information 
of  an  entirely  satisfactory  kind  in  Fpca"king  of  it.  Justice  to  the  living, 
and  affectionate  memory  of  the  dead,  make  it  a  duty  and  a  pleasure 
to  allude  to  their  conduct  in  terms  of  praise. 

After  advancing  about  four  hundred  yards,  they  encountered  a  heavj 
musketry  and  artillery  fire  in  front,  and  also  an  enfilading  fire  from 
the  left,  wliich  the  failure  of  the  command  to  their  left  to  advance 
simultaneously  with  Breckinridge's  divi.sion  enabled  the  enemy  to  pour 
into  their  ranks.  Besides,  I  am  satisfied  they  were  subjected  to  a  fire 
on  their  right  from  the  two  pieces  subsequently  Captured  by  the  right 
of  the  brigade.  Yet  three  several  timei  this  devoted  little  band 
charged  the  enemy,  securely  fortified  and  in  a  favorable  position. 
Though  necessarily  repui?ed,  their  frightful  loss  shows  their  constancy 
and  bravety.  Here  the  kind,  pure,  brave  Brigadier  General  B.  H. 
Helm  wa?  mortally  wounded,  heroically  doing  his  duty.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  James  W.  Hewitt,  in  advance  of  his  regiment,  and  showing 
a  devotion  and  daring  entitled  to  the  highest  commendation,  was  killed. 
Colonel  Caldwell  was  severely  wounded,  as  usual,  in  his  place,  doing 
his  duty.  Robert  C.  Anderson,  color-sergeant  eecond  Kentucky,  was 
killed  upon  the  enemy's  work«,  after  having  planted  his  colors  thereon. 
Here  fell  many  snothcr-officer  and  Boldier,  life  images  of  Kentucky'i 
old,  renowned  and  valiant  soldiers,  true  men.  The  Uooi  of  her  icns 
also  attest  Alabama's  chivalry  and  manhood. 

As. soon  as  I  ascertained  the  ex:ict  position  of  the  left.  I  caused  it  to 
be  moved  by  the  right  flank  to  the  right,  and  in  advance  of  where  it 
wai  then,  trll  the  right  of  the  brigade,  under  commaud  of  Lieutenant 


I 


21S 

Colonel Cofer,  was  met — behaving  recrosscd  the  road — Then  I  formed 
the  brigade  in  line  of  battle  nearly  perpendicular  to  the  road  and  to  the 
enemy's  works  About  this  time  I  received  orders  from  Lieutenant 
Geueral  Hill,  through  one  of  his  staff,  not  to  advance,  but  to  await 
the  arrival  of  frosh  troops.  In  a  short  time  Gist's  brigade  attacked 
the  enemy,  passing  through  my  lines  for  that  purpose,  but  was  drawn 
back.  Eetot's  brigade  then  advanced,  but  being  unable  to  drive  tho 
enemy  from  his  works,  finally  fell  back,  leaving  this  brigade  again  to 
Confront  the  enemy.  My  men,  though  at  this  time  nearly  exhausted 
by  several  hours  hard  fighting,  and  sufl'ering  greatly  for  want  of  water, 
remained  firm,  no  one  leaving  his  place.  After  the  repnlso  of  the 
other  two  brigades,  1  was  ordered  to  retire  severs' 1  hundred  yards  to 
_  the  rear  to  rest  the  men,  which  was  doije  in  good  order  and  without 
confusion. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  Walker's  division  advanced  against  the 
enemy,  a  portion  of  it  attacking  the  same  point  tho  left  of  this  bri- 
gade did  in  the  morning.  Being  with  my  coiuniand  ahout  faur  hun- 
dred yards  in  rear  at  that  time,  and  out  of  sight  of  tho  combatants, 
I  could  not  see  with  what  result  the  attack  was  made,  though  a,  short 
time  thereafter  Cheatham's  division  moved  to  the  attack  over  the  satnc 
ground — Bright's  brigade,  of  that  division,  passing  through  the  lines 
of  this  brigade.  After  some  time  had  elapsed,  ami  it  appearing  feom 
the  firing  that  no  apprcciablc^advantage  had  beo»  gained,  tiiis  br'gade 
was  moved  forward,  beinj  on  the  left  of  the  division.  In  advancing, 
it  was  discovere  1  that  tho  centre  brigade  of  the  division  lapped  on 
mine,  making  it  necessary  for  me  to  oblique  to  the  Irft  about  two  hun- 
dred yards.  It  was  also  necessary  to  advance  the  left  more  rapidly 
than  the  riglit  v. ing,  in  order  to  get  on  a  line  more  parallel  with  tho 
enemy.  Both  these  difficult  movements  were  executed  while  march- 
ing through  the  woods,  without  any  material  derangement  of  the  line, 
t!ie  command  moving  steadily  and  unfalteringly  forward. 

Upon  arriving  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  fortifications,  the  brigade 
rapidly  charged  upon  them,  driving  them  from  their  stronghold  in 
confusion  towards  the  Chattanooga  road.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
across  an  open  field  till  the  road  was  reached,  when,  it  being  dark,  I 
judged  it  prudent  to  halt,  which  met  the  approval  of  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Hill,  who,  close  after  us,  immediately  came  up.  In  passing 
through  the  fortifications  a  number  of  prisoners  were  captured  and 
sent  to  the  rear.  We  also  captured  two  pieces  of  artillery  in  the  road, 
which  our  rapid  pursuit  of  the  enemy  prevented  their  carrying  ofl"' — 
one  Napoleon  and  one  James  rifle.  The  nature  of  the  ground,  wood- 
land, prevented  Cobb's  battery  performing  tho  important  part  in  this 
action  he  and  his  gallant  company  Lave  so  often  done,  and  knew  so 
well  how  to  do — though,  in  the  afternoon,  one  section,  under  the 
gallant  and  faithful  (Jracey,  was  placed  in  p"osilion  under  General 
Forrest.  I  refer  you  to  Captain  Cobb's  report  for  an  account  of  their 
behavior  on  that  occasion. 

I  am  not  enabled  to  state  the  e.\act  number  engaged  in  the  actions 
of  the  19th  and  2()th.  Hut  one  thousand  three  hundred  is  the  approx- 
imate number  of  officers  and  men,  including  Cobb's  battery.      The 


pi9 

whole  number  of  casualties  were  Bixty-tbrce  killed  awl  four  hundred 
and  eight  wounded. 

It  would  afford  me  pleasure  to  designate,  by  name,  the  officers  and 
men  who  bo  gallantly  fought  on  these  two  occasions,  for,  with  very 
few  exceptions,  all  did  their  duty.  But  to  do  so  would  swell  this 
report  to  an  inordinate  sise.  However,  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty,  and 
take  pleasure  in  tho  pcrform^ince  of  it,  to  call  attention  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  fit'ld  officers  of  the  difl'erent  regiments.  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel Cofcr.  in  command  of  the  sixth,  after  I  took  comrai-.nd  of  the  bri- 
gide  ;  Mnjor  Chuk,  of  the  same  regiment;  Major  Thompson,  in  com- 
mand of  the  fourth,  after  Colonel  Nuckolls  was  wounded  ;  Captain 
Millett,  senior  captain,  acting  field  officer,  of  the  same  regiment,  and 
Major  Nash,  in  command  of  the  seren  companies  of  the  forty-first 
Alabama,  all  ca.-ne  under  my  observation.  In  each  I  remarked 
constancy,  gallantry  and  coolness.  In  the  afternoon,  Colonel  Stan- 
sell,  of  the  forty-first,  Lieutenant  Colonel  WicklifFe,  in  command  of 
the  ninth,  after  Colonel  Cnldwell  was  wounded,  and  Captain  (lillam, 
acting  field  officer,  of  the  same  regiment,  attracted  my  notice,  and 
but  confirmed  the  good  account  I  had  of  them  in  the  morning.  Cap- 
tain Lee,  of  the  second  Kentucky,  though  too  unwell  to  endure  the 
fatigue  throughout  the  day,  acted  as  field  officer  with  his,accustomeil 
bravery  in  the  charges  made  by  the  left  in  the  morning. 

It  is  the  highest  praise  I  can  possibly  bestow  on    the  officers  of  the 
brigade,  to  say  they  proved  themselves,  in  nearly  every  case,  worthy 
f  their  commnnd.s. 

Of  the  staff  of  Brigadier  General  Helm,  I  take  pleasure  in  bearing 
testimony  in  behalf  of,  and  making  special  mention  of,  Captain 
Fayette  Hewitt,  assistant  adjutant  general.  As  soon  as  he  was  ena- 
bled to  do  so,  he  reported  to  me,  and  througliout  the  entire  action, 
after  the  death  of  General  Helvi,  as  well  as  previous  thereto,  as  I 
learn,  he  di'^played  coolness,  gallantry  and  judgment. 

Captain  G.  W.  McCawley,  assistant  inspector  general,  prrmptly 
reported  to  me  the  wounding  of  General  Helm,  as  before  stated,  at 
which  time  I  got  from  him  his  horse,  not  having  my  own  with  me, 
when  he  returned  to  where  General  Helm  was  wounded,  and  remained 
with  him.  I  am  reliably  informed  that  previous  thereto  he  was  in  his 
place  on  the  left,  and  »cted  bravely  and  efficiently. 

Captam  Helm,  acting  commissary  subsistence,  though  not  com- 
pelle<l  to  do  so,  went  on  the  field  and  did  his  dnty. 

Lieutenant  W.  llerr,  aid-de-cnmp,  and  Licijtcnant  John  T'irtle, 
acting  ai'1-de-camp,  reported  to  me  as  soon  as  the  necessary  attention 
t'  th'-ir  wounded  General  allowed,  and  thereafter  acted  gallantly  and 
faithfully. 

I  enclose  the  several  reports  of  regim'^ntal  arid  the  battery  com- 
mander*, together  with  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded. 

I  am,  very  rcspectfiilly,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOSEPH   H.  LEWl.s?. 
CoUmtl  rommandivg  Helm't  bri-gnde. 


REPORT  OF   COLONEL  R.  L.   GIBSON,  COMMANDING 
BRIGADE. 

lltADuUARTERS  AdaMs'  EkIGADE,  ) 

September  26,  1863.      \ 

Major  James  Wilson, 

A.  A.  General  Breckinridge's  Division  : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
taken  by  this  brigade,  composed  of  the  thirteenth  and  twentieth  Lou- 
isiana volunteers,  CBlonel  Leon  Von  Zeniken;  sixteenth  and  twentj-fifth 
Louisiana  volunteers,  Colonel  D.  Gober  ;  nineteenth  Louisiana  volun- 
teeas.  Lieutenant  Colonel  R.  W.  Turner;  tliirty-second  Alabama  vol. 
unteers,  Major  T.  C.  Kimball,  and  Austin's  battalion  Louisiana  sharp- 
shooters, with  Siocomb's  battery  Washington  artillery,  in  the  battle 
of  Chickainauga,  from  the  moment  that  I  assumed  command  : 

I  was  engaged  in  reforming  my  regiment  when  informed  that  Brig- 
adier Gen.  D.  W.  Adams  having  been  disabled  by  a  wound,  the  command 
of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  me.  I  at  once  ascertained  that  there  was  no 
support  on  the  left  of  the  brigade,  and  ordered  the  co;nmaud  to  form 
on  the  rear  slope  of  the  hill  upon  which  Captain  C.  II.  Slocomb's 
battery  Washington  artillery  was  posted.  This  having  been  accom- 
plished, I  left  the  lino  in  charge  of  Colonel  Daniel  Gober,  sixteenth 
and  twenty-fifth  Louisiana  volunteers,  and  hastened  to  the  left,  where 
I  observed  several  regiments  falling  back.  One  of  these  I  at  once 
moved  to  the  support  of  the  line  on  the  left,  and  directed  Captain 
Labouisse,  A.  1.  G.,  to  bring  up  another,  retreating  through  the 
woods,  to  the  same  position.  V\^ith  Qpptain  Slocomb's  assistance,  he 
succeeded  in  placing  two  regiments  in  position.  They  were  Lclieved 
to  belong  to  the  brigade  on  our  left.  The  thirty-second  Alabama  vol- 
unteers and  Austin's  battalion,  which  had  not  participated  in  the 
charge,  but  h;id  been  ordered  to  oppose  the  advance  of  a  column  of 
the  enemy's  infantry,  reported  on  our  right  and  rear,  were  called  in 
and  directed  to  join  the  brigade  on  the  right  of  the  battery.  It  was 
deemed  best  to  occupy  ourselves  with  the  enemy  in  sight,  leaving  the 
cavalry  reports  for  after  consideration.  These  dispositions  had  just 
been  made,  when  Major  General  Breckinridge  reached  us  and  approved 
them.  ^  , 

Captain  Slocomb,  whose  battery  had  made  a  noble  stand,  here  in- 
formed mo  that  he  was  considerably  cut  up,  and  that  he  thought  it 
best  to  retire  for  a  short  time.  He  was  ordered  to  retire.  In  less  than 
two  hours  ho  again  reported  ready  for  action,  having  equipped  himself, 
in  ucirly  everything  needed,  from  the  battery  taken  by  the  brigade  in 
approaching,  for  the  first  time,  the  main  Chattanooga  road. 

I  do  not  think  it  worth  while  to  speak  of  the  different  lines  of  battle 
taken  before  again  engaging  the  enemy.  About  four  o'clock,  by  order 
of  Major  General  Breckinridge,  the  brigade  was  posted  about  three 
hundred  yards  in  rear  of  Major  General  AValker's  command,  (General 


221 

Liddell's  division.)  The  line  was  here  puhjected  to  Pome  shelling,  and 
it  became  apparent  that  our  forces  in  front  were  unsuccessful  in  their 
attacks.  About  sundown  General  Brcckinridjze  turned  to  mc  and 
directed  that  I  should  advance,  and  at  the  same  time  execute  a  chancre 
of  direction  to  the  left.  ]  had  advanced  but  a  short  distance,  when  I 
saw,  from  \shat  vnbs  occurring  in  front  of  us,  that  our  lines  in  advance 
were  giving  away  under  an  enfilading  fire  from  the  left,  and  I  there- 
fore gained  as  much  ground  to  the  left  as  time  and  circumstances 
would  permit.  The  movement  forward  was  made  slowly,  carefully  and 
witli  all  possilile  precision.  We  passed  over  sevetal  lines  of  troops  as 
we  advanced,  who  cheered  us  heartily.  The  extreme  right  rcginient 
was  detained  a  few  moments  by  one  of  these  lines,  a?  will  be  seen  bv 
referring  to  Colonel  Gobcr's  report,  I  determined,  if  possible,  not  to 
fire  a  gun,  and  it  is  due  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  brigade  that  I 
should  state  that  we  passed  through  a  line  engaging  the  enemy  with- 
out halting  and  without  firing,  and  continued  to  advance,  moving  in 
perfect  Older,  until  within  a  few  paces  of  the  enemy,  when  a  charge 
was  ordered  and  the  whole  command,  with  a  terrific  yell,  sprang  upon 
him.  A  volley  ^^as  receive<l  without  effect ;  a  second,  from  the  bjirri- 
cades  of  trees  and  stones,  checked  us  for  an  instant;  but  the  officers 
rushed  forward  again,  the  men  followed,  and  the  enemy,  panic  stricken, 
fled  in  the  wildest  disorder.  Not  a  moment  was  to  be  lost; the  brigade 
was  lirged  forward^  its  centre  resting  near  the  fence  which  separated 
the  coin-field  from  the  woods,  the  Itft  extending  into  the  field.  We 
thus  continued  to  drive  the  enemy  from  every  position  for  three-quar- 
ters of  a  mile,  until  we  had  entered  the  woods  about  seventy  yards 
from  the  Chattanooga  road,  where  it  was  halted.  Darkness  was  doit 
rapidly  approaching. 

I  had  sent  Lieutenant  Ware,  of  the  staff,  to  the  left,  and  he  reported 
to  me  that  there  were  tio  troops  on  that*  flank;  confirming  the  state- 
ment of  Colonel  Von  Zeniken.  commanding  the  left  regiment.  I  had 
gone  myself  to  the  right.  I  deemed  it  pioper  therefore  to  halt  and 
to  rectify  the  alignment,  which  had  become  broken  in  the  pursuit, 
before  advancing  further.  This  had  just  been  finished  when  Lieu- 
tenant General  Hill  rode  op  and,  observing  that  we  had  done  well, 
directed  that  I  should  throw  forward  skirmisher?  for  the  diptance  of  a 
•jiile.  A  few  moments  afterwards  I  wa«  ordered  by  Major  General 
Breckinridge  to  bivouac  near  the  main  Chattanooga  road,  and  I 
accordingly  moved  b«ck  to  this  position.  Many  prisoners  remained 
within  our  linos  during  the  charge,  but  no  attention  was  paid  to  them; 
they  numbered  pri'U*yy  three  or  four  hundred. 

The  position  stormed  was  held  by  a  brigade  of  United  States  regulars, 
«nder  Brig.  General  King.  The  enemy's  dead  and  wounded  marked  the 
track  of  the  brignde.  ^jany  hundreds  of  small  arms  were  found  ujion 
the  field  next  inorniriL'.  A  battery  was  taken  by  the  tlirteenth  an! 
twentieth  Louisiana,  but  the  gallant  manner  in  which  the  reraainler 
of  the  brigade  behaved  entitles  them  to  share  in  the  credit  of  the 
capture. 

In  the  night  our  skinnifthers,  under  Captain  E.  M.  Dnbroca,  com- 
pany B,  thirteenth  and  twentieth  Louisiana,  8f&t  in  thirty  prisonerc, 


232 

«inong  them  several  oflScers  ;  and  Major  T.  E.  Austin's  battalion 
brought  in  fifty  more  next  day.  The  brigade  halted  victorious  at 
night  on  the  very  ground  whence  it  had  recoiled  at  mid-day. 

1  would  respectfully  refer  the  Major  Gcnerui  commanding  to  the 
reports  of  subordinate  comnianders  for  the  parts  their  commands  bore 
in  the  battle. 

Among  the  oflScers,  Colonel  Daniel  Gober,  sixteenth  and  twenty- 
fifth  Louisiana,  and  Colonel  Leon  Von  Zeniken,  thirteenth  and  twen- 
tieth Louisiana,  were  conspicuous  for  courage  and  skill.  All  theoffi. 
cers  and  men  behaved  with  commendable  gallantry.  Mnjor  C.  H. 
Moore,  sixteenth  and  twenty-fifth  Louisiana ;  Major  T.  C.  Kimball, 
thirty-second  Alabama;  Captain  H.  A.  Kennedy,  nineteenth  Louisiana, 
■who  commanded  in  the  evening  charge,  and  Captain  E.  JL  Dubroca, 
thirteenth  and  twentieth  Louisiana,  showed  themselves  officers  well 
fitted  to  handle  troops  on  the  field.  The  report  of  Captain  C.  H.  Slo- 
comb,  Washington  artillery,  shows  how  large  a  share  his  command 
bore  in  the  engagement.  I  cannot  speak  in  terms  too  high  of  the 
bearing  of  the  officers  and  men  of  this  battery.  The  skill  of  the 
former  is  only  equalled  by  the  bearing  of  the  latter. 

Our  valor-inspiring  chief  of  artillery,  Major  Graves,  of  Major 
General  Breckinridge's  staff,  fell,  mortally  wounded,  in  the  arms  of 
Captain  C.  IL  Slocomb.  He  fell,  where  his  heroic  soul  desired,  on  the 
battle-field,  among  those  who  loved  him,  and  in  the  arms  of  a  brave 
comrade. 

But  our  success  was  not  without  heavy  loss.  Our  chivalrous  com- 
mander. Brigadier  General  D.  W.  Adams,  was  wounded  in  the  charge 
of  the  morning  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Li''utenant 
Colonel  II.  W.  Turner,  nineteenth  Louisiana,  was  wounded,  and  the 
brave  Major  Loudon  Butler,  of  the  same  regiment,  breathed  his  last 
at  the  hea'l  of  his  regiment.  jOf  General  Adams'  staff,  I  am  indebted 
for  valuable  services  to  John  W.  Labouisse,  A.  L  G.,  who  was  ever 
prompt  and  eflicient,  and  to  Lieutenants  E.  M.  Scott  and  G.  S.  Yerger 
likewise  for  zeal  and  bravery.  Nor  should  I  omit  to  pay  a  special 
tribute  to  the  soldierly  bearing  of  Lieutenant  S  L.  Ware.  He  is  en- 
titled  to  much  credit  for  his  conspicuous  gallantry.  The  gallant  adju- 
tant general,  Captain  E.  P.  Guillet,  was  already  wounded.  Major  M. 
Hanly,  A.  Q.  M  ,  and  Major  W.  V.  Crouch,  A.  C.  S.,  have,  through- 
out the  campaign,  discharged  their  duties  with  fidelity  and  promptness. 

The  brigade  entered  the  action  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  officers, 
and  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  thirty-three  ;  with  twelve  hundred  en- 
listed men,  and  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  three  hundred  and 
ninety-six.  It  drove  the  enemy  from  two  batteries  which  fell  within 
our  lines,  only  six  guns  uf  which,  however,  upon  investigation,  were 
positively  taken  by  officers  of  the  command.  About  six  hundred  pris- 
oners were  likewise  captured  during  the  battle.  It  only  ceased  the 
pursuit  of  the  en^my  at  night  and  under  orders.  One  hour  more  of 
daylight  had  adiled  largely  to  our  captures. 

1  have  the  honor  to  remain,  yours,  very  respectfully, 

II.  L.  GIBSON,- 
Colonel  cominanding. 


223 


JiErORT  of  the  Effective  Strength  of  the  uvrrcl  Regiments  composing 
Adams'  Brigade,  carried  intu  tfit  Battle  of  Chickamauga,  on  each  day  of 
the  Battle : 


Kamk  of  Cdiiman-dkr. 

19th  Octobbb. 

20tb  Octo 

nsR. 

COMMAXD. 

lif. 

:=    .|  1 

t5     1  H 

o 

11 

"si 
e5 

1-ith  ami  2nih  L«.  reg't 

Col    Lron  Von  Zinken... 

1 1 

81 
26 
33 
9 
18 

25.J 
89.t 
317 
'JO 
127 
107 

28't 

Col.  P.  Goher 

i....:. 

319 

U'tb  La.  regiment.- 

Lt.  Col.  R.  W.  Turner.. 
Maji«r  T.  E.  Austin.  



350 

99 

Major  T.  C.  Kimball.... 

14.') 

Slocnmb's  battery.- 

Captain  C.  H.  Slooomb.. 

6 

120!  126 

112 

G 

120.  126 

1?fi 

1,189 

l.aii 

Tilt  infitntr;  of  this  brigade  wag  not  engaged  in  the  battle  of  October  19th. 


Respectfully  Bubmitted, 


B.  L.  GIBSON, 

Colonel  commanding. 


REPORT    OF     COLONEL    J.    II.     KELLY,    COMMANDING 
BRIGADE, 

Headquarters  TiiiRn  BRicAnE,  Preston's  Divtsrox,  ) 
In  the  Field  fronting  Chattanooga,  Sept.  25,  1863.       J 

Cvf TAi.N  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  tho  following  as  a  report  of 
the  o{)erations  of  the  brigade  under  my  command  in  the  battle  of  the 
19th  and  2ltth  instants  : 

Tho  night  of  the  IHth  instant  I  bivou!vcked,  with  three  regiments  of 
tho  brigade,  (the  sixty-tliird  Virginia,  Major  French  coininanding, 
h.aving  been  detached  the  day  before  ns  a  guard  to  tlie  division  ord- 
nance train,)  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chickamauga.  At  daylight,  oa 
the  morning  of  the  19th,  I  was  ordered  to  cross  the  Chickamauga  at 
Dalton's  ford,  and  at  about  eight  o'clock  I  formed  line  of  battle  in  a 
corn- field,  on  the  left  of  Brown's  brigade,  Stewart's  division,  and 
three  hundred  yards  in  rear  of  Gracie's  brigade,  the  fifty-eighth  North 
Carolina,  Colonel  J.  B.  Palmer  commanding,  forming  the  right;  the 
fifth  Kentucky,  Colonel  II.  Hawkins  commanding,  the  left,^nd  the 
sixty-fifih  Georgia,  Colonel  Moore  commanding,  the  centre  of  my 
line.  '  Here  the  brigade  was  subjected  to  a  brisk  cannonade  from  ihe 
enemy's  batteries.  At  about  eleven  o'clock  I  was  onlered  to  move  by 
the  right  flank  about  four  hundred  yards,  when  I  again  formed  line  of 
battle,  and  remained  in  position  during  the  remainder  of  the  night  and 
day,  being  occasionally  shelled.  At  this  point  the  sixty-third  Vir- 
ginia, less  two  companies  detached  as  guard  for  division  ordnance 
train,  reported  to  the  command  -ai  about  three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

At  about  seven  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  2()th  instant,  the 
brigade  was  moved  by  the  left,  (link  about  three  hundred  yards  and 
posted  on  an  eminence,  as  a  support  to  three  batteries  of  Major  Ley- 
den's  battalion  of  artillery.  From  this  position  I  threw  out  four  com- 
panies of  skirmishers,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Edmund 
Kirby,  fifty-eighth  North  Carolina.  He  moved  to  the  front  .ind  left, 
and  reported  the  enemy  moving  to  the  right.  At  one  o'clock  I  was 
ordered  to  leave  the  sixty-fifch  Georgia  as  a  support  to  the  above- 
named  batteries,  and  move  by  the  right  flank  and  form  line  of  battle 
five  Ijundred  yards  in  rear  of  (iracie's  brigade  and  conform  to  ita 
movements.  While  the  line  of  battle  was  in  process  of  formation,  I 
discovered ^hat  (iracie's  brigade  was  moving  by  the  right  flank  on  the 
Chattanooga  road.  I  therefore  moved  by  tho  right  ftatik  five  hundred 
yards  to  the  right  of  that  road  and  parallel  with  it.  After  marching 
in  this  direction  about  one  and  a  half  miles,  I  was  halted  and  ordered 
to  form  line  of  battle  to  resist  an  attack  from  the  front  or  tho  left 
flank.  This  disposition  was  made,  and  I  remained  in  position  until 
about  half-past  three  o'clock,  P.  M. — the  enemy  meanwhile  actively 
shelling  me.  At  this  time  I  was  ordered  to  move  by  the  left  flank, 
and,  having  marched  three-fourths  Of  a  mile,  I  was  ordered  to  form  on 
the  left  of  Gracie's  brigade.     While  this  was  being  executed  I  was 


S2.'. 

ordered  to  make  an  oblique  change  of  direction  to  the  right  and  to 
advance.  I  had  advanced  but  a  short  distance  when  F  was  subjected 
to  the  enemy's  fire.  The  enemy  was  posted  on  a  heavily  wooded 
ridge,  fiom  which  he  had  several  times  repulsed  other  troops  of  our 
array.  The  approach  to  him  was  orer  a  succession  of  hills,  with 
intervening  depressions,  each  hill  to  the  front  being  somewhat  more 
elevated.  The  brigade,  under  fire  of  the  enemy,  moved  steadily  to 
the  front  three  or  foxxf  hundred  yards,  holding  its  fire  until  within 
very  short  range  of  the  enemy,  the  right  being  not  more  than  fifteen 
or  twenty,  the  centre  about  forty,  and  the  left  abouf  sixty  yards  dis- 
tant when  our  first  fire  was  delivered.  After  a  desperately  contested 
fight  of  half  an  hour  I  succeeded  in  gaining  the  hill,  from  which  the 
enemy  made  three  unsuccessful  attempts  to  dislodge  me  by  assault. 
However,  owing  to  the  conformation  of  the  ground,  the  fifty-eighth 
North  C  .rolina  was  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  the  front  and  both 
flunk.?,  an  i,  after  losing  about  half  its  numbers,  was  compelled  to  fall 
back  to  a  position  of  greater  security.  Just  before  this  falling  back 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Edmund  Kirby,  gallantly  cheering  his  men,  fell, 
pierced  by  four  bullets — Major  Dula  having  been  wounded  early  in 
the  engagement.  At  this  juncture  I  was  indebted  to  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral Anderson  for  a  reinforcement  of  one  regiment  from  his  command. 
Colonel  Palmer,  the  only  field  officer  with  the  regiment,  was  here 
wounded,  but  still  continued  in  command.  After  exchanging  fires 
with  the  enemy  for  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  1  determined  to  attempt 
todislod;:ed  him  by  assault,  and  for  this  purpose  transferred  the  fifty- 
eighth  North  Carolina  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  my  line  and  moved 
forward,  swinging  somewhat  to  the  right.  When  I  arrived  at  the 
base  of  the  hill  the  enemy  was  heard  to  cry,  "We  surrender,  we  sur- 
render "  I  immediately  stepped  to  the  front,  my  horse  having  been 
previously  killed,  and  called  upon  the  officer  who  seemid  to  be  in 
command  and  demanded  that  if  he  proposed  to  surrender  he  should 
lay  down  his  arms.  lie  came  to  the  front  and  said,  "Wait  a  minute." 
I  replied,  "  No,  sir  ;  lay  down  your  arms  instantly,  or  I  will  fire 
upon  you,"  and  turned  to  my  command,  but  before  I  could  give  the 
command  "  ready,"  he  poured  upon  it  a  terrific  fire,  which,  on  account 
of  its  suddenness,  threw  the  brigade  for  the  instant  into  confusion, 
but  It  rallied  and  was  reformed  within  thirty  yards  of  this  position, 
I  am  confident  that  the  enemy  intended  to  surrender,  and  that  his  fire 
was  drawn  by  an  unauthorized  shot  from  his  ranks.  Fjnding  that  mj 
•mmunition  was  almost  exhausted,  I  sent  to  the  rear  for  reinforce- 
ments or  a  supply  of  ammunition.  At  (his  juncture  I  met  Colonel 
Trigg,  commanding  brigade,  and  informed  him  of  the  position  of  the 
enemy,  asking  him,  at  the  same  time,  to  co-operate  with  me  in  his 
capture.  He  agreed,  and  formed  his  line  on  my  left,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  swinging  the  whole  force  to  the  right.  Just  as  the  movement 
was  begun,  I  was  notified  by  one  of  his  staff  that  the  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral commanding  division  wished  to  see  me,  and  I  repaired  at  once  to 
where  he  was  stationed  in  the  field.  During  this  temporary  abience 
the  enemy  surrendered  to  Colonel  Trij^  Immediately  after  the 
surrender  a  force,  supposed  t«  be  of  the  enemy,  opened  a  heavy  fire, 
15 


;i26 

■which  created  conjidcrable  confusion,  in  which  a  large  number  of  the 
encmv  were  inakirig  off  Colonel  II.  Hawkins,  of  the  fifth  Kimtucky, 
here  cipturcil  two  hundred  and  fortwnine  prisoncr.s.  includiiii;  two 
colonel.-*,  one  lieutenant  colonel  ami  a  number  of  coinpunv  officers. 
About  I'.iis  tiniy  I  rejoined  the  coium.ind.  and  turned  over  to  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Wade,  of  tlio  fifty-fourth  Vir;xitiia,  to  be  taken  to  the 
rear,  my  pri.sonors,  except  the  threp  field  oineerp.  who  were  sent  to 
division  headquarters  in  charge  of  one  of  ray  staiT.  The  nij^ht  being 
far  advanced.  I  made  arrangetuents  to  replenish  my  hupply  of  ammu- 
nition, and  wcnt'jnto  bivouac  ou  the  hill  which  the  brigade  had  so  gal- 
lantly won 

It  would  not  be  proper  for  me  to  close  this  report  without  tendering 
my  tliauks  to  the  members  of  luy  staff  and  the  othcers  commanding  the 
regimcatb  for  valuable  assistance  rendered  in  handling  the  troops, 
and  be:iring  testimony  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men 
composing  the  cotnraand.  It  was  the  first  time  that  most  of  them  had  ever 
been  under  fire,  yet  they  acted  with  the  coolness  and  courage  of  veterans. 
Fighting  against  a  superior  force,  posted  in  an  apparently  impregna- 
ble position,  they  moved  steadily  forwaril,  beat  and  captured  the 
encmv,  and  slept  in  his  strong  place.  When  all  did  their  duty  eg 
well,  it  seems  almost  invidious  to  make  particular  mention  of  any  one, 
yet  I  must  be  allowed  to  speak  of  the  gallant  conduct  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  E.  Kirby,  fiftj'-eighth  North  Carolina;  Captain  C.  11.  Lynch, 
sixty-third  Virginia;  Lieutenant  Colonel  G.  W.  Conner,  Major  Wil- 
liam Mynhier  and  Adjutant  Thomas  II.  B.  Cork,  fifth  Kentucky,  and 
especially  Captain  J.  Desha,  fifth  Kentucky,  who,  although  painfully 
and  severely  wounded  early  in  the  action,  remained  at  the  head  of  his 
company  uiitil  the  enemy  was  defeated. 

I  took  into  the  tight  an  aggregate  of  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two, 
and  lost,  in-killed  and  wounded,  three  hundred  and  three,  and  twenty- 
six'in  missing. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

•  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  . 

J.    II.  KELLY,   . 
Colonel  commanding  brigade. 


REPORT  OF  COLONEL  R.  0.  TRIGG,  COMMANDING 
BRIGADE.  • 

Hf.adqi'artf.ks  Trii.g's  Brigade,  > 
Srptemhrr  26,  1863.       J 

Captain  J.  L.  Sandfosd, 

Assiitnni  uidjutant  Genpral : 

Captain  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  part 
borne  bv  my  brigade  in  the  battles  of  the  Ohickaraaugn,  on  the  19lh 
and  2itth  instant- : 

Bv  order  of  Brigndier  (lOneral  Prepton.  coniaianding  division,  I 
crossed  the  Chickamauga,  at  early  dtwn,  the  morning  of  the  19th, 
and  formed  lino  of  brittle  near  Hart's  house,  on  t!ie  prolongation  of 
Brigadier  General  Bate'o  line.  Whilst  occupying  this  position  the 
enemy  threw  shot  and  shell  into  my  lines  from  a  battery  on  the  right. 
The  Fixth  regiment  Florida  volunteers  (Colonel  Findley)  lost  one 
lieutenant,  one  sergeant  and  one  private  killed,  and  two  privates 
wounded.  I  promptly  moved  the  brigade  forward  bo  as  to  get  the 
cover  aflTurded  by  the  opposite  hills. 

About  twelve  o'clock.  M.,  by  direction  of  Brigadier  General  Pres- 
ton, I  moved  my  bri<;ade  by  the  right  flank  and  reformed  on  the  crest 
of  a  ridge  abont  half  i  mile  north  of  Hunt's  lionse.  A?  soon  as  the 
line  was  formed.  I  dcployod  the  first  rcinment  Florida  cavalry,  (dis- 
mounted,) Coloricd  M:ixwell.  as  Bkirmisiier.-',  three  hundred  yanls  ia 
advance,  and  covering  the  entire  front  of  the  brigade.  This  regiment 
soon  became  engaged  with  the  enemy's  infAUiry  in  a  cr>rn-field  and 
the  woods  to  the  right  of  the  field.  It  knpt  up  (juite  ahrisk  fire  f)r  more 
than  two  hours,  when  the  right  was  driven  in  by  a  de-triictive  fire  of 
gr«pe  nnd  canister  from  a  bjittery  in  the  fi.jld  At  this  time  I  was  ordsred 
to  rtinforce  General  Hood  and  move  in  the  direction  of  the  firing.  The 
firin;:  was  on  my  right.  I  moved  by  the  right  flank  until  mpt  by  a  staff 
officer,  who  came  t-i  conduri  me  to  the  point  where  Gen.  Hood  needed 
support — the  position  held  by  General  Benning's  brigade.  At  bis 
instance  I  moved  by  the  front.  Soon  after  I  was  met  by  another 
staff  officer,  who  claimed  my  support  for  General  Robertson's  brigade. 
I  continued  my  mf^vement  by  the  front  until  I  came  near  a  corn-field, 
in  which  the  enemy  had  a  battery,  protected  by  earthworks,  near  the 
Chattanooga  road,  and  supported  by  a  long  line  of  infantry  drawn 
up  in  the  field,  and  in  rifle-pits  and  woods  on  the  right  and  left  of  the 
battery.  The  enemy  was  advancing  when  I  first  diccovered  hitn,  and 
had  passed  about  one-third  the  length  of  the  field.  T^  tro-ps  thut 
had  won  the  wooded  rijide  outside  oi  the  fieM,  and  on  my  rigiit,  were 
falling  back  in  some  confusion.  The  advance  of  the  enemy  and  the 
falliiij:  ('a^k  of  our  troops  sermed  to  effect  some  chiicge  in  the  ininJ 
of  till-  ■-III  r  conducting  rne.  He  rrquer-led  me  to  halt  ULt.l  he  couM 
learn  precisely  what  position  I  was  to  take.     While  thus  halted  and 


SS8 

under  the  enamj's  fire,  General  Robertson  appeared  and  hurriedly 
informing  me  that  his  line  was  very  much  weakened  and  woulil  be 
beaten  back  unless  quickly  reinforced,  indicated  the  direction  in 
which  I  ehfluld  move.  I  obliqued  to  the  right  until  I  supposed  that 
my  right  W9  opposite  to  his  left.  This  brought  the  front  of  my 
brigade  to  the  corn-field  fence.  All  this  while  I  hiid  been  uisdor  a 
most  destructive  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  and,  at  this  time,  he 
concentrated  upon  me  the  fire  of  his  whole  force  in  the  corn-fiold 
and  in  the  timber  around  it.  I  had  not,  as  yet,  fired  a  single  gun. 
I  reserved  my  fire  until  I  reached  the  fence.  At  the  first  volley  the 
enemy  broke  in  confusion  to  the  left  and  rear.  Seeing  his  confusion, 
I  ordered  my  brigade  to  charge  before  he  could  rally.  The  sixth' 
Florida  regiment  gallantly  responded,  leaping  the  fence  and  dashing 
forward  to  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  forcing  the  enemy's  broken  line  to 
■eek  the  nearest  cover  on  the  right,  left  and  in  rear.  This  regiment 
regained  the  ridge,  which  I  am  informed  was  won  and  lost  more  than 
once  during  the  day,  cleared  the  corn-field  cf  all  the  infantry,  drove 
nearly  all  the  gunners  from  the  battery  and  would  have  certainly 
captured  it  but  for  a  lamentable  interference  with  my  command. 

When  the  order  to  charge  was  given,  i  was  on  the  right  with  this 
regiment.  The  order  was  not  promptly  conveyed  to  the  other  regi- 
ments of  the  brigade,  and  they  failing  to  conform  to  the  movements 
of  the  siith  Florida,  it  got  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred 
yards  in  advance.  Having  gained  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  I  discovered, 
for  the  first  time,  that  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  were  not  up 
■with  the  sixth  Florida,  .  I  immediately  started  to  bring  them  up,  but 
had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  when  I  perceived  them  crossing  the 
fence  and  moving  forward  in  good  order.  I  returned  to  direct  the 
movements  of  the  sixth  Florida.  When  these  regiments  had  reached 
the  second  fence,  I  discovered  that  they  were  being  moved  by  Briga- 
dier General  Robertson  across  the  field  by  the  right  flank  and  in  roar 
of  the  sixth.  Finding  that  this  regiment  would  not  receive  support 
from  the  rest  of  my  brigade,  and  it  being  exposed  to  a  terrible  fire 
from  tho  front  and  left,  (the  enemy  having  in  part  recovered 
from  hispauic,)  I  withdrew  it  below  the  crest  of  tho  ridge,  and 
unwillingly  relinquished  the  capture  of  the  battery,  which  a  few 
minutes  before  I  had  regarded  as  almost  accomplished.  For  such 
was  the  disposition  of  my  brigade  that  when  the  charge  was  ordered, 
two  regiments  and  half  of  another  on  my  left  overlapped  tho  enemy's 
battery  and  supports,  and,  when  withdrawn  from  the  field,  they  were 
moving  rapidly  to  turn  his  right  flank.  Night  put  an  end  to  the 
conflict. 

On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  I  formed  my  brigade  four  hundred 
yards  in  the  rear  of  Manigault's  brigade,  Hindman's  division,  and  was 
ordered  to  support  him  and  conform  to  his  movements.  About  twelve 
o'clock,  M.,  Uoneral  Manigault  moved  forward  in  the  direction  of 
the  Chattanooga  road.  I  followed.  When  in  four  hundred  yards  of 
the  road,  I  came  up  with  his  artillery,  which  had  halted,  and  met  a 
good  many  stragglers  from  his  brigade.  I  rode  forward  to  the  road 
and  fouad  eome  confuBion  in  tho  brigade.     I  informed  an  officer  of 


General  Manigault's  staff  that  I  was  there  to  support  him  and  ready 
to  ren'lcr  the  Fupport  at  nnjj^^imrnt. 

About  this  time  I  IfiaiiiPiWrom  an  officer  of  General  Hinflinau's 
staff,  that  the  left  of  Uin(iiiian'p  >livisinn  was  ihriMtened  and  would 
be  turnel  unles.-*  quickly  j^urpoited,  (tl,fl  left  of  ihat  division  having 
been  supported  up  to  that  time  by  Manigault'H  brignde.)  1  moved 
my  brigade  to  the  Chattanooga  road  in  double-quick  time,  pissing 
General  Manigault's  brigade  and  taking  the  front.  Tlio  position  of 
the  enemy  being  indicated  to  me,  I  disposed  of  the  troops  of  my 
command  with  a  view  to  offensive  movements,  and  ordered  the  bat- 
tery assigned  me  (Captain  Pecples,  ninth  Geor^jia  battalion)  to  take 
position  and  open  fire  upon  the  enemy.  Tlie  enemy  failing  to 
respond,  after  several  rounds,  and  it  being  evident  that  he  had  with- 
drawn from  that  part  of  the  fitld,  I  ordered  the  firing  to  co^ise  and 
proposed  to  advance,  when  I  received  orders  from  General  Buckner 
to  move  down  the  Chattanooga  road  and  support  Williams'  battalion 
of  artillery. 

Having  remained  in  support  of  this  artillery  until  half-past  two 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  was  ordered  by  General  liuckncr  to  move  back  on 
the  Chattanooga  road,  with  two  of  my  repiincntB  and  one  pipce  oT 
artillery,  and  select  a  fivorable  position  to  resist  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
which,  it  was  understood,  had  passed  to  our  rear  and  was  moving  on 
that  road.  Whilst  engaged  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty,  with  the 
first  Florida  (dismounted)  cavalry  and  seventh  regiment  Florida  vol- 
unteers (Colonel  Bullock;  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  an  order  from 
General  Buckner  directed  me  to  withdraw  one  regiment  and  rejoin 
the  division.  1  withdrew  the  seventh  Florida,  but  had  hardly  put  it 
in  motion  when  I  received  from  General  Preston  a  pressing  order  to 
move  rapidly  to  the  support  of  the  other  brigades  of  his  division, 
(Gracie's  and  Krlly's  ) 

The  cavalry  whose  movements  I  had  been  sent  to  oppose  having 
proved  to  be  our  own,  I  took  the  responsibility  of  ordering  the  other 
regiment  and  the  piece  of  artillery  to  follow,  and  communicated  the 
facts  to  General  Buckner  as  I  passed  along.  The  sixth  Florida  and 
fifty-fourth  Virginia  regiments  had  been  already  put  in  motion  by 
Colonel  Findley,  senior  col"nel.  The  battle  was  raging  furiously 
when  I  arrived  with  the  serenth  Florida  regiment,  which  I  formed  on 
the  left  of  the  fifty-fourth  Virginia,  which,  with  the  sixth  Florida 
regiment,  was  already  formed  en  the  left  of  Kelly's  brigade  [The 
first  Florida  (dismounted)  regiment,  on  the  way  to  join  the  brigade, 
was  detached  by  order  of  General  Preston  and  sent  to  the  support  of 
General  Gracie's  brigade  ]  Without  wavering  or  faltering,  these  two 
brigades — marching  over  some  of  our  own  troops,  who  were  lying 
down — drove  the  enemy  steadily  before  them,  until  his  ri^ht  wai 
forced  from  its  strong  position,  on  rough,  brokrn  ground,  heyily 
timbered.  Driven  from  this  position,  he  fell  back  upon  a  s^fond  lino 
of  ridges,  running  p»rpendicalar  to  the  Chattanoogij  ro»d,  whioh  wai 
already  held  by  a  strong  force  and  protected  by  breastwf.rk*.  When 
near  the  base  of  this  ridge,  I  learned  from  Colonel  Kelly  the  precise 
locality  of  the  enetny,  and   immediately    determined,  with  him,  to 


• 

attempt  tho  cnpture  of  tlist  p«rt  of  his  fori^e  in  my  front,  tuj  pi^ition 
luinfT  particularly  fivoniblc  fjr  the  nt^^^nt^n!  I'f  this  eml.  I  imine- 
ilitttely  wliL-cleii  my  brig:i'li3  to  the  risht^hich  brought  me  in  rear  of 
the  enemy,  and  moved  rapidly  up  the  hill  to  within  twenty  paces  of 
bis  lines.  This  movement  surprised  him  and  resulted  in  the  capture 
of  the  twenty-second  Michigan,  the  eighty-ninth  Ohio,  and  part  of 
the  twenty-first  Ohio  regiments,  five  stands  of  cr)lor.«,  and  ovor  one 
thousand  five  hundred  small  arms,  of  the  latest  and  most  approved' 
pattern. 

Darkness  having  fallen,  and  the  enemy  having  withdrawn  from  his 
position  on  my  left,  no  further  movement  was  attempted. 

Before  beginning  the  movement  last  alluded  to,  I  requested  two 
bri<^;i<:es,  which  were  in  my  rear,  to  form  on  my  left  anil  co- operate 
with  me.  The}'  declined,  for  tho  want  of  ammunition.  It  is  greatly 
to  be  legretted  that  they  were  not  in  a  condition  to  give  mo  assist- 
ance. Had  thev  formcil  on  my  left,  our  line  would  have  cxrended 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  to  the  Chattanooga  roail,  ami.  being  in  rear  of 
the  enemy,  all  his  forces  occupying  the  ridge  would  have  been  com- 
pletely cut  off. 

'Where  every  officer  and  man  did  his  whole  duty,  special  mention 
cannot  be  made. 
'  The  fortune  of  war  threw  the  sixth  F'lorida  regiment  into  the  post 
of  danger,  and  upon  them  fell  the  heaviest  loss,  and  proved  them 
"  veterans  in  their  first  fight."  Their  commanding  officer  is  proud  to 
render  to  them  this  just  tribute  of  praise,  and  he  i.><  also  proud  to 
express  his  conviction  that  each  other  regiment  of  his  brigade  is 
worthv  of,  and,  had  ciicumstancea  allowed,  would  have  won  equal 
commendation.  .  It  is  simple  justice  to  my  command  to  say  thit  it 
beat  the  enemy  everywhcro  it  found  him,  and  carried  every  position 
which  it  ass:iulted. 

1  tnke  plrii.sure  in  mentioning  the  following  named  soldiers,  who 
have  distinguished  tlieraselves  by  the  capture,  each,  of  a  stuml  of  the 
enemy's  color.s : 

tf-'igeant  L.  E.  Tiraraons,  company  I,  seventh  regiment  Florida 
vi^luufecrs,  captured  the  regimental  flag  of  the  twenty  first  Ohio 
regiment. 

Private  Oscar  F.  Ilonnkcr,  company  F,  fifty-fourth  Virginia  regi- 
ment, captured  the  legimontal  flag  of  the  twenty-second  .Michigan 
re^iiuieiit. 

Private  W.  F.  Harris,  company  F,  fifty-fourth  Virginia  regiment, 
captured  the  State  fl-ig  of  the  twenty-second  Michigan  regiment. 

I'rivate  Henderson  Hyiton,  company  A,  fifty-fonrth  Virginia  regi- 
ment, captured  the  regimental  flag  of  the  eighty-ninth  Ohio  regiment. 

Privat-j  Franklin  Carter,  company  K,  fifty-founh  Virginia  regi- 
ment, captured  the  State  flag  of  the  twenty-first  Ohio  regiment. 

In  this  connection,  I  deem  it  proper  to  state  that  private  J.  It.  M. 
Mosciey,  Captain  ILiys'  company,  sixth  regiment  Florida  volunteers, 
captured  a  stand  of  colors,  and,  while  guarding  prisoners  to  the  rear, 
ho  passed  a  small  party  of  men,  who  claimed  them.  Being  unable  to 
distinguiBh  these  men  in  the  dark,  and  supposing  them  to  be  a  squad 


i 


i 


:.n 


dctailfJ  liy  uie  to  receive  tko  captured  colors,  he  gave  them  up. 
Thpse  colors  have  not  been  heard  of  since.  I  have  no  doubt  of  the 
truili  of  private  Moseley's  efatcuit'iit.  It  'n  corroborated  by  other 
evid'jiici'.  These  colors  were  duubtlesn- turned  over  to  inca  of  another 
ccnimaiid.  iuid  Bent  in  to  iieiidtjuarters  as  cupliired  by  them. 

Append. -d  ia  a  statement  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  rai-^aing  oC  luy 
brigade. 

1  am.  Captain,  very  respectfully,  your  obndient  seiv.int. 

ROBKRT  C.  TRIGG. 

Colvnel  viiminanding  Brigade,  Pfeslons  Divinion,  Buckntr's  Corjis. 


REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN   CHARLES   SWETT,  ACTING  CHIEF 
OF  ARTILLERY. 

Artii.i.frt  Enx«mp.mcnt,  Liddf.ll's  Bmn.vDK,  > 
•  October  7th,  ISo;J.      \ 

Cnptnin  S.  A.   Williams, 

Asshtunt   Adjutant   General. 

Cattain  :  I  hnve  the  honor  to  to  cnfike  the  tbllowing  report  of  the 
action  of  the  artillery  of  I-iililell's  division  in  the  battle  of  Cliicka- 
maugji  on  the  19th  and  2Uth  of  September,  and  also  in  the  aflfair  of  the 
18th  ultiiiio  :  » 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  Septcmbor,  ordere  wcro'received  to  bo 
in  readiness  for  an  eisfly  movement,  and,  at  three  P.  M.,  Liddell's 
diviaicn  left  Lafayette  and  moved  toward  the  enemy  in  the  direction 
of  Chattanooga. 

At  nine  o'clock,  on  the  moiniDg  of  the  IStli.  the  command  reached 
a  point  on  Cbickamauga  creek,  noar  Ah'xander's  bridge  ;  but  finding 
it  in  pisseBsion  of  tho  enemy,  lino  of  i)attlc  was  formed,  and  an 
advance  made,  in  order  to  dislodge  them.  -Tho  enemy  had  but  one 
batteiv  which  was  posted  near  a  house  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
creek,  ^ind  which  fired  upon  our  skirmisliora,  a  few  shots  passing  over 
the  line.  Fowler's  battery  was  moved  to  the  front  and  placed  in  posi- 
tion near  the  road,  and  on  the  e<lgo  of  a  cultivated  field,  from  which 
place  a  section  of  his  guns  wefe  ordered  Eoino  three  hundred  yards 
further  to  the  front  by  General  Liddell,  but  do  not  think  he  fired  from 
the  place  designated.  The  battery  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Shannon  was  ordered-to  the  right  of  Walthall's  brigade,  to  a  position 
commanding  the  one  occupied  by  the  Federal  battery.  After  firing  a 
few  rounds  the  enemy  disappeared,  as  our  fire  was  not  returned,  nor 
were  they  again  seen  at  this  place.  Tho  fire  of  our  battery  was 
ordered  to  cease,  and  the  command  moved  forward,  crossing  the  Cbick- 
amauga at  Byron's  ford,  and  camping  for  the  night  one  mile  from 
that  stream. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  command  moved  at  an  early  hour 
and  formed  line  of  battle  a  mile  distant  from*  our  camp  of  the  pre- 
vious night,  and  advanced  to  the  support  of  Ector's  brigade,  which 
•was  then  engaging  the  enemy.  The  Washington  light  artillery  fol- 
lowed Liddell's  brigade,  and  a  portion  of  Fowler's  battery  following 
Walthall's,  though  neither  battery  could  be  brought  into  action,  in 
consequence  of  the  rapid  ailvance  of  the  command  and  of  tho  char- 
acter of  the  ground  over  which  we  were  moving.  At  this  place  a 
flank  movement  of  the  enemy  caused  the  division  to  fall  back,  though 
Lieutenant  Shannon  succeeded  in  firing  a  few  rounds  on  retiring,  in 
order  to  check  the  enemy ;  but  Fowler's  battery  could  not  be  brought 
into  action,  (though  it  was  twice  halted  by  myself  for  that  purpose,) 
as  the  enemy  would  have  surrounded  and  captured  the  guns  had  they 
been  unlimbered.  From  this  position  the  division  moved  to  the  right 
near  a  mile  distant,  and  formed  line  perpendicular  to  the  formation  of 


233 

the  morning.  From  this  point  the  confjmin'l  advanced  with  the  Wash- 
ington light  artillery,  on  the  right  of  Liddeli'g  hrigijile.  it  heing  the  in- 
tention to  hjve  Fowler's  battcrj  follow  on  the  loft  of  W.ilthall.  As  the 
division  more  1,  a  Pnrrott  batterj  opened  upon  oar  line,  but  a  few 
■well-dircctod  shots  from  Fowler's  battery  either  caused  it  to  change 
position  or  to  retire,  as  it  did  notagiin  opoji.  The  division  advanced 
but  a  few  hun  Ired  yards,  when  it  retired  to  the  base  of  an  inclination 
that  it  had  nearly  gained  th'-  summit  of,  which  movement  was,  in 
»  measure,  owing  to  a  battery  firing  over  otir  lino  from  the 
rea',  and  which  was  connected  wirh  F  irre^t's  commiii  1  R?rore  the 
division  re'ired,  I  movel  to  the  front  and  left,,  to  sceiire  a  josition 
for  Fowler's  (jittery*,  and,  while  gme,  Cijjtiin  F.  permitted  one  of 
his  lieutenants  to  luove  with  the  brigade  to  whi'jh  he  is  attached,  with, 
the  section  under  his  command  which  re'^ulted  in  the  loss  of  one  Napo- 
leon gun  and  fourteen  horses,' though  the  gun  was  subsequently  re- 
taken. The  Washington  light  arti11*!ry  wis  taken  at  dusk  to  a  position 
in  rear  and  to  the  ri::ht  ol  Cleburne's  division,  where  fir  about  half 
an  hour  we  shelled  the  enemy's  rear.  A  caisson  and  three  limbers 
were  taken  from  the  field  on  the  return  of  the  bittcry  to  our  line, 
and  a  James  rifle  gun  »nd  limner  was  hauled  to  the  company  by  hand 
and  turned  over  to  Lieut-enant  Shinnon,  by  members  of  the  bri- 
gade. The  division  remiined  in  this  position  till  the  following 
mirning.  when  it  was  moved  by  the  left  flink  about  one  milo,  and 
afterwards  two  miles  to  the  right,  to  a  position  in  rear  and  to  the  right 
Geo.  of  Breckinridge,  who  was  then  eigiging  the  enemy.  The  divis- 
ion remained  here  till  ten.  A  M  ,  when  il  was  ordered  forward  to 
the  support  of  General  Breckinridge.  On  reaching  tin  roir  of  Gen- 
eral Breckinridge's  command,  it  was  found  to  be  filling  ba^k,  though 
repeatedly  rallied  and  renewed  the  contest.  The  artillery  w;is  ordered 
into  position  in  reir  of  the  line,  on  the  left  of  the  roal,  and  fronting 
"the  west,  which  position  we  were  ordered  to  defend  ;  but  did  not  find 
it  nccc'<«ary  tr>  fire.  Fowler's  battery  wis  here  moved  forward  and 
an  effort  rjndc  to  gain  a  position  on  the  right  of  our  line,  which  could 
not  be  done  in  cons 'q'ten^'c  of  the  inf.in'ry  con'inually  giving  way. 
We  remiined  here  till  half-past  fo.:r,  P.  M  ,  when  we  moved  against 
the  enemy,  the  artillery  fallowing  by  the  road,  and  aocending  a  hill 
and  taking  position  in  an  orchird  n^^r  MM))mir«  h">use,  an!  on  the 
right  'if  the  divi«iiin,  we  succeeded  in  ffi'ttin^  seven  guns  ih  posi- 
tion and  e-igigei  a  I'.irrott  better}'  of  tlif.'  orje  ny,  di't^int  abo'it  eight 
hundrnl  yardt,  bat  had  no  w>oncr  opened  than  wo  were  fired  upon  bj 
a  m4>kel  but'.ry.  two  hundred  yard*  from  our  right  flink,aiid  by  one 
one  ihouiand  jards  from  md  -ouihwest  ff  us,  and  by  another  on  the 
left  flank  of  Liddcll  s  hrigail'-.  The  effect  of  our  fire  was  very 
dentructive  to  the  memv,  but  we  were  forced  to  leave    '  1,  as 

the  advance  of  a  line  of  the  enemy  at  a  <i(,uble-fjiiick  mk 

of  Lid  hlPs  brigade,  together   with,the  anilK-ry  fire  i;.  .  ,  *si- 

tioD  untenable.  The  order  w*s  civr-n  to  the  aniilery  r -t  to  retire  till 
the  Uot  mim-nt,  nor  until  the  infantry  had  fallen  Si-k  The  nrlil- 
kry  reached  the  ba**"  of  the  hill,  when,  being  flunked  by  the  Federals 
sod   a  horM   shot  down   in  a  gan   of  both  Fowler's  battery  and  the 


234 

Washington  light  artillery  company,  Lieutenant  Shannon  called 
upon  Captain  Fletcher,  of  the  thirteenth  Arkansas,  who  rallieJ  a  few 
men  and  secured  both  pieces,  which  were  soon  afterwards  taken  to  the 
rear.  • 

On  the  morning  of  the  2 1  st,  a  gun  was  ordered  by  "Gen.  Liddell  to  the 
position  occupied  by  us  on  the  previous  evening,  and  soon  afterwards 
both  Fowler's  battery  and  the  VVashington  light  artillery  were  ordered 
to  the  same  place.  It  soon  being  discovered  we  had  no  enemy  in  our 
front,  the  command  moved  on  the  Lafayette  and  Chattanooga  road  in 
the  direction  of  the  latter  place.  A  report  of  the  casualties  in  the 
artillery  of  the  division  has  been  forwarded. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

CHARLES  SWETT, 
Captain  and  Acting  C/def  of  Artillery,  LiddtWs  Division. 


/S^:  ^yf yt^<^^<,  a^->-^>^ 


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